Cameroon sack coach Javier Clemente

Clemente, (left), pictured alongside assistant Omam Biyik, has been sacked by Cameroon

Cameroon have sacked coach Javier Clemente with eight months left on his contract with the Indomitable Lions.

The federation confirmed his sacking on Tuesday, ending weeks of speculation over the fate of the Spaniard.

The Spaniard oversaw the Indomitable Lions' shock failure to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

"Clemente and his assistants were duly informed that they were relieved of their duties yesterday," Cameroon FA secretary general Sidiki Tombi said.

Frenchman Denis Lavagne, coach of the country's champions Coton Sport, is the favourite to take over.

"A new coach will be appointed very soon, maybe within some hours from now, as we've already forwarded a list of the pre-selections to the sports minister to make the final choice," Tombi said.

"What Cameroon needs is a charismatic coach who will not allow himself to be easily influenced to summon this or that player to the national squad simply because he has been in the team for a number of years or because he is a friend of a senior official of the federation.

"He should also be one who will accept to live here in Cameroon and accept the salary he will be proposed, no matter the amount."

Clemente was appointed in August last year to replace Frenchman Paul Le Guen following the Indomitable Lions' dismal performance at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

Assisted by former internationals, striker Francois Omam Biyick and goalkeeper Jacques Songo'o, his aim was to lead Cameroon for the 2012 African Nations Cup in neighbouring Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

But Cameroon finished second to Senegal in their qualifying group, the four-times winners missing out on the finals for only the second time in 16 attempts.