Cameroon coach Clemente insists he is still in charge
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Clemente, (left), pictured alongside assistant Omam Biyik, claims he is still in charge despite recent comments about his future
Cameroon coach Javier Clemente insists he will see out his contract until told otherwise by the federation.
The Spaniard oversaw the Indomitable Lions' shock failure to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, external.
This has sparked widespread speculation over his future but the former Spain coach insists he is still at post.
"I will be there until they tell me otherwise - I have a contract until the 30th June 2012," Clemente told BBC Sport on Thursday.
Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) told Reuters on Thursday that it has started the search for a coach to replace Clemente.
"The federation has stepped up efforts to get a new coach for the Lions before the end of this month so as to give him enough time to prepare the team to qualify for both the 2014 World Cup and 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifiers," Fecafoot spokesman Junior Binyam said.
The federation insists the Spaniard had failed in his mission to get the Indomitable Lions through to the 2012 African Nations Cup.
"It is very clear to everybody now that Clemente has failed in his chief mission since he failed to take the Lions to the Nations Cup next January in neighbouring Gabon and Equatorial Guinea," Binyam added.
Binyam said the federation had received many applications from within and outside the country and had already interviewed and held discussions with some candidates.
Three names would be submitted to the Minister of Sports and Physical Education next week for a final decision.
Media reports said Frenchman Denis Lavagne, coach of the country's champions Coton Sport, was the favourite but former international Patrick Mboma was also in the running.
Last month, Fecefoot issued a statement denying it had done a deal for former France manager Raymond Domenech to take over the role from Clemente, who became manager after last year's World Cup.
Cameroon's failure to qualify for the Nations Cup was only the second time in the last 16 attempts that they have missed out on the tournament.
They finished second behind Senegal in Group E of the qualifiers.