Yaounde — Cameroon have recalled French coach, Pierre Lechantre to assist Jean-Paul Akono to add spice to the faltering performance of the African champions, despite their runaway lead in the World Cup qualifiers.

Lechantre, who guided Cameroon to their third African Nations Cup title last year was removed as head coach to assume a more senior position as technical director and replaced by Akono, after he led the Under-23's to Olympic Gold last September.

But under Akono, the fans have protested that the Indomitable Lions are short of their convincing performance with which they lifted several accolades from 1999 to 2000. Last weekend the Lions struggled to defeat Libya in a World Cup qualifier in Yaounde and managed only a 1-0 win.

Akono was stoned and the side booed after the final whistle. Cameroon had won through controversial penalty in the second-half, which was scored by Lauren Etame Mayer.

Now, the sport minister, who had recommended Akono's promotion last year, has spoken out saying that the Olympic winning coach should accommodate Lechantre onboard his World Cup campaign.

Cameroonians had called for the dismissal of Akono, but the minister's decision has given the coach another chance to hang on to the job.

It has been agreed that Lechantre will take up an advisory role, especially on the training programme and the selection of players for the team. Akono will continue his current duties.

The two coaches have started work already for next Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Angola in Luanda. The team will start a four-day camping in Portugal on Monday and will fly directly to Luanda from Lisbon.

Lechantre and Akono had had troubled working relationships in the past. At the Olympics and the All-African Games, Akono felt his position was being undermined by the involvement of Lechantre in his Under-23 duties. But the general view is that the latest set up has given a Akono a life line.