Cameroon's coach Winfried Schafer has agreed a new two-year deal to stay on in charge of the Indomitable Lions.

The deal puts paid to the hopes of English club Brighton and Hove Albion of landing the German as a replacement for Peter Taylor.

Schafer had been the subject of much speculation about his future after Cameroon's poor showing at the World Cup.

But Schafer told German sports agency SID that he had made his decision after being encouraged to stay by the head of the Cameroon FA.

"The president of the Federation has faxed me an offer and told me we should continue working together," Schafer said.

"The minister for sport is also of that view.

"Now I am going to sign," he confirmed.

Long-term future

And he added that he had been in contact with Brighton, but found it too difficult to leave Cameroon.

"That would have been a way of getting into the English game - but I am so close to the Cameroonians that I want to remain with them," Schafer explained.

And he added that he hoped remain in charge beyond the two years currently agreed to.

"If we put in a good showing at the African Nations Cup in 2004 I will keep up my work until the 2006 World Cup," Schafer said.