Rigobert Song Issues Warning to Liverpool Star Over Cameroon Decision

• Cameroon coach Rigobert Song has told Joel Matip to make a decision to rejoin Cameroon as early as possible
• Liverpool defender Joel Matip has asked for more time to make a decision about his international future
• Matip missed the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and 2022 World Cup qualifiers owing to his self-imposed exile

Cameroon coach Rigobert Song has sent a stern warning to Liverpool defender Joel Matip over his return to the national team.

Matip has not donned the Cameroon colours since a victory over The Gambia in 2015, during the 2017 AFCON qualifiers.

The 30-year-old complained of some bad experiences with the technical staff after an Afcon qualifying match between Cameroon and Gambia on September 6, 2015.

In an interview with FECAFOOT Magazine ‘Corner’, Song, who recently travelled to Germany to speak to Matip's parents, said time is not on the Liverpool defender's side to make a decision.

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“The day after my appointment, the president of FECAFOOT allowed me to make a mini-tour of Europe to meet dual nationals and other players who had decided for multiple reasons to withdraw from the selection," Song said as quoted by Actu Cameroun.

"I must say that the discussions were constructive on the whole.'

“About Matip, our wish is to see him again wearing the tunic of the Indomitable Lions.

"But you know, the answer is up to the player. He asked me for time to decide. I’m still waiting but you have to know that I don’t have all the time.”

The Cameroonian Football Federation sent a delegation to Liverpool two years ago before the 2021 AFCON to convince the defender to end his self-imposed exile but it apparently did not bear any fruits.

Matip has played 27 games for the Indomitable Lions between 2010 and 2015, and his only goal for the country was at the 2014 FIFA World Cup where he scored the only goal in their 4-1 defeat to Brazil.

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Rigobert Song Names Ghana Premier League Top Scorer in Cameroon Squad

Meanwhile, Asante Kotoko forward Frank Mbella Etouga has been handed his maiden senior national team call-up after receiving an invite from the Cameroon coach Rigobert Song.

The 20-year-old striker, who is the leading scorer in the Ghana Premier League, was named in the team for the games against Kenya and Burundi next month.

The Cameroon Football Federation released the squad today for the games on June 4th and June 8th on Friday, with Mbella expected to join the team on May 30.

Song's Son Rejects Indomitable Lions Call up Ahead of 2022 World Cup

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that the son of former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Song says he wishes to play for the France national team because he feels French.

Nolan Song was born in Cameroon but moved to France at a very young age, where he began a career in football.

This means the 16-year-old is eligible to play for Cameroon and France.