Passing through France to supervise the Indomitable Lions of Ligue 1, Toni Conceiçao gave an interview to the news broadcast Ouest France. Antonio Conceiçao, coach of the Cameroon national team returned to his work at the head of the Indomitable Lions.
You took over the selection two years ago. What have you changed to get her back on the path to success?
Since our arrival, we realized that a long-term project was missing. We kept repeating it and working on it. If Cameroon wants to regain its past strength, it must integrate young people into the country and develop training. The U23 team thus played in the CAN in Egypt in 2019 and have not made a match since. We come up against an absence of continuity. I still have 6 to 8 U23 players to prepare for the future of Cameroonian football and selection.
You have also observed a lot of players since your arrival. What did it come out of?
We analyzed the potential of more than 60 players. Some were used to the selection, others never were because there was not necessarily this scouting work. We needed to identify the players who could make it into the squad. We also called five players playing in Cameroon. It was a message that the door to selection is open to anyone who works hard to make it.
Léa Siliki (Rennes), Billong (Clermont) or Neyou (Saint-Étienne) have joined the selection. How did you convince the bi-nationals?
It is a process of follow-up and dialogue, which lasts beyond internships, where there is little time. We have established permanent contact with the players. At this level, it is essential to create a group dynamic and instill a culture of winning. Hence the importance of having a project. We have done a lot of planning, organization and logistics in order to be more rigorous. The players need to be able to concentrate on the pitch, the rest, like travel, shouldn’t be an obstacle.
Are the qualifications for the world cup and the organization of the CAN at home also arguments?
Yes, but the best argument is word of mouth between players. They know that the staff are closer to their concerns, that working conditions are improving. The arrival of new players demonstrates this and injects competition. We have put in place a positive dynamic. They feel that things are changing and that is essential.
The Covid disrupted the regroupings. What consequences did the pandemic have on your work and how did you cope?
It interrupted the continuity in the work with canceled matches, postponed internships. It forced us to do some reprogramming work. The good thing is that we had more time to get to know and observe the players better
Has the Federation also set high goals?
High and ambitious, but I take them on. “I know the value of my work“
Didn’t that scare you?
(He laugh). Clearly no because I know the value of my work. I trust. Which doesn’t mean you’re indifferent to pressure. We take it into account. I understand the importance of football for the Cameroonian people, and even more so with the organization of the CAN. Whether you win or lose, there are always criticisms.
You have obtained consistency in the results. Did you find your style?
There is still a long way to go. The results are positive and especially the last two meetings against Nigeria, but there is still work to be done to get there we want to go. The strength of the selection is the team and their state of mind. More than an individuality, it is the collective that takes precedence. Unlike in the past, we don’t have a player capable of making a difference, like Samuel Eto’o or Roger Milla.
Ligue 1 had 7 players at the last meeting. Is this one of the main breeding grounds for observation?
It’s a very strong championship and it’s good to have a lot of Cameroonians competing in it. It allows us to have competitive players at the top level.
You have relaunched the Nantes player Jean-Charles Castelletto. What does He bring to you?
He is a very important player, because of his intelligence. He is not a sheriff who uses strength as his weapon. He can read the game very well and offers qualities of speed. It is important that the two exchanges are complementary to have a good balance between aggressiveness and placement.
With Choupo-Moting, Toko-Ekambi or Aboubakar, competition is fierce in attack. How are you interested in the profile of Angevin Stéphane Bahoken?
The attack is a strong point when all the players work very well together… It was seen against Rwanda (0-0), where we lacked efficiency. Compared to Aboubakar and Choupo-Mouting, which move more between the lines, Bahoken offers depth. He can also go and play in the wider areas of the field and he is very strong in the head game. He is also a very aggressive player who also resists pressure.