Cameroon’s former striker and football legend Roger Milla says the country should pull out of international competitions and focus on rebuilding its battered football image.

The Old Lion, as he is fondly called, is remembered for his dance when he scored at the 1990 World Cup. Milla’s comments came in the wake of Cameroon’s ousting from this year’s competition in Brazil. Cameroon were beaten 1-0 by Mexico, 4-0 by Croatia and 4-1 by Brazil.

“It is not the players we lack,” Milla told dpa in an interview. “The problem lies more with those who manage football in the country.” Taking a swipe at a special committee put in place to restore order in the country’s football governing body, FECAFOOT, Milla described them as “... people interested only in money and missions.” “For close to two decades now, Cameroon has not won a single international competition ... The once feared Indomitable Lions do not rattle anyone these days.” Milla says that in his day, the driving force was patriotism.

“We defeated Argentina despite having been given two red cards. It was because we were a team of warriors. It is not the same today,” he said.

Milla also blamed the Lions’ weak performance on an alleged lack of discipline, proposing that the players should he taken to military barracks to “learn real discipline.” He also criticized German coach Volker Finke, accusing him of taking wrong decisions in selecting and substituting players.

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