Cameroon football legend, Rigobert Song, suffered a cerebral attack and immediately hospitalised in his country’s capital, Yaoundé, Monday.
The 40-year-, who is known these days to be the national team manager of Chad, was however flown to Paris the next day for more treatment after coming out of a coma.
“He has come out of his coma and the oxygen has been disconnected,” Dr Louis Joss Bitang A Mafok, director of the emergency centre at the Yaoundé Central hospital, told the BBC.
“His high blood pressure has returned to normal and the cerebral haemorrhage has been controlled.”
As we all hope Song gets through this horrible illness, here are 10 outstanding facts about the former Cameroon skipper.
- Record eight AFCON appearances
Song holds the record of eight Africa Cup of Nations appearances and captained Cameroon to five of those tournaments. The 40-year-old played in all the AFCON’s between 1994 and 2010.
- Two-time African champion
In those eight tourneys, Song emerged champion twice (2000 and 2002). He even scored the winning spot-kick kick against Nigeria to win his first AFCON.
- Olympic gold medallist
Song was part of the Cameroon team that won gold at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. That feat made them only the second African side after Nigeria to achieve such.
- Most capped Cameroonian
With 137 caps, Song is the most-capped Cameroonian to have graced the game. This figure takes him above the likes of Samuel Eto’o, Roger Milla and Patrick Mboma.
- Youngest player to be sent off in a World Cup finals
Song was a no-nonsense, aggressive and physical defender during his playing days. This approach meant he was constantly on the black books of referees. Aged 17, Song became the youngest player to be sent-off in the history of the World Cup.
- Red carded in two World Cups
Aside being the youngest, he alongside, Zinedine Zidane are the only two players to have been red carded at two different World Cups – against Brazil and Chile in 1994 and 1998 respectively.
- Played at four World Cups
Song falls into an elite group of Africans to have featured at four different FIFA World Cup finals. The others surprisingly are compatriots, Jacques Celestin and Eto’o.
- A Liverpool hero
Not so many Africans were lucky to play for Premier League giants, Liverpool and even the likes of El Hadji Diouf who did, was hated by fans of the club. Song on the hand was a cult hero at Anfield. He featured 34 times for the Merseysiders with fans affectionately singing: “We’ve only got one Song!
- Uncle of former Arsenal midfielder, Alex Song
Song is uncle to former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder, Alex Song, who now plays for Rubin Kazan.
The 29-year-old said of his uncle: “I speak to him all the time and always call on him for advice. He’s a good person to talk to because of his experience in England and I can ask him anything, depending on situations.”
- Three-time Turkish Cup champion
Aside his numerous national team accolades, Song won a handful of titles during his club career. Among which were three Turkish Cups – twice at Galatasaray and once with Trabzonspor.
