Lavagne sacked, Akono recruited

Denis Lavagne has been fired as coach of Cameroon just three months into his contract, the west African country's state radio announced. His sacking, by Sports Minister Adoum Garoua, comes five days after the Indomitable Lions slumped to a 2-0 defeat by Cape Verde Islands in a 2013 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Cameroonian Jean-Paul Akono will replace him while Lavagne's assistant, Martin Ndtoungou Mpile, remains in his post. The Frenchman only signed a permanent contract in June this year with options to make it a rolling deal, after being caretaker manager since last November. Lavagne, who previously had a spell with Cameroon champions Coton Sport, took up the post following the sacking of Javier Clemente after the Spaniard failed to secure qualification for the 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations. "Denis Lavagne, coach and manager of the national football team, the Indomitable Lions, has been relieved of his function with the team," a communique penned by Garoua, and read out on state radio, announced.