The challenges awaiting the new trainer are many.

Gone are the days when the choice of a new coach was left at the discretion of a few individuals. The public didn't mind who was chosen to train the national squad as it was believed, at the time, that Cameroon was capable of winning without a coach. It was even said Cameroon made hitherto unknown coaches to become great after training the Indomitable Lions.

However, today, things have changed as the appointment of a new coach is done under public scrutiny and the final decision awaited with much anxiety as it has become evident that the trainer has a contribution to make in the victory of the team. Cameroon in 1990 attained the status of a world class team and subsequent victories at the African Cup of Nations in 2000 and 2002 coupled with the winning of the Olympic gold medal in Sydney confirmed this image, thereby ushering the necessity of a world class coach to train the Indomitable Lions.

More so, Cameroon's ambition has become taller over time and Cameroonians are no longer contented with winning the Africa Cup of Nations but winning the world cup or to a lesser extent, go beyond the quarter final stage of the world football jamboree, the highest level so far attained by an African team.

It is for this reason that football authorities are no longer interested in short term contracts with coaches but a long term contract that will run up to the World Cup in Brazil in 2014. Public opinion is agreed on the criteria for a new coach for the Indomitable Lions but differ when it comes to whether the job should be given to a national or a foreigner. Proponents for a foreign coach say nationals have a tendency to harass players for money and fall prey to the whims and caprices of football authorities. Whereas the opponents say, foreign coaches are unnecessarily expensive and hardly take up residence in Cameroon to be able to detect and nurture young talents. Whether for or against the hiring of foreign coaches, everyone is agreed that the new coach should be someone with a strong personality capable of inspiring respect from the players and imposing discipline in the squad. Such a person should also have a strong head on a strong shoulder, that is, have a vision for the team and be able to resist pressure from all quarters to implement that vision.

However, beyond these objective considerations, there are some unofficial considerations such as what mark-up the coach will be willing to surrender from his contract to the lobby that brings him to power, the consent of both government and federation officials in that diplomatic relations at times have a role to play in the choice of a manager for the team and the ability to pay the price for a world class coach. In view of the above considerations, the stakes of choosing a new coach for the Indomitable Lions are high given the challenges ahead and the fact that the team is plagued with relational problems and indiscipline.