According to the president of the Cameroon Football Federation Iya Muhammed although no official contact has yet been made Germany's most-capped player Lothar Matthaeus and Halilhodzic are among the leading contenders.

"I've never met Lothar Matthaeus but his candidature has been forwarded to us as well as that of former Ivory Coast coach Vahid Halilhodzic and some 10 others," he told state radio, CRTV.

The 49-year-old Matthaeus, who has 150 caps and was World Player of the Year in 1990, has coached several clubs in Europe and one in Brazil as well as Hungary's national team and managed Israeli club Maccabi Netanya until the end of last season.

Halilhodzic, 57, played for Yugoslavia and has coached several clubs after starting out at Raja Casablanca including Paris St Germain. He was sacked as Ivory Coast coach in February after their African Nations Cup quarterfinal exit.

Iya added FECAFOOT had begun a series of meetings this week to agree a profile which must be met by any candidate with emphasis on offering a long-term contract.

"Already, I think we need a new coach who will accept at least a four-year contract. We must end this series of recruiting coaches on short-term contracts and demanding immediate results. We need a trainer that will spend enough time with the players, know them and build a formidable, strong team," Iya said.

The FECAFOOT President said he did not oppose recruiting a Cameroonian coach, although such a candidate would have to fit the profile set out and prove beyond all doubt that he could withstand the immense pressure that comes with the job. "In our country, this job comes with a lot of pressure," Iya said. "I can tell you that even I come under strong pressure every day," he added.

According to Reuters, sources in FECAFOOT and the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education say the next coach for the Lions must be "a man with a strong personality" in order "to withstand pressure from within and outside the team".