Schaefer says his heart lies in Cameroon

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my home. This is the house in which I am living," a beaming Schaefer told reporters as they arrived for a press dinner on Thursday evening at his new residence at the prestigious Bastos district in Yaounde.

Under pressure from the government, Schaefer was ordered to start living in the country, as stipulated by his contract.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my home. As you can see, I am here in Yaounde, not in Egypt as has been reported Cameroon manager Winfried Schaefer

Government officials and the local media had criticised the coach for spending most of his time in Europe.

Schaefer had argued he needed to be based in Europe to monitor the performances of the Cameroon players based on the continent.

But after Cameroon's Indomitable Lions failed to retain their African Nations Cup title earlier this month, crashing out in the quarter-finals, the German came under mounting public criticism.

He was lambasted for relying on ageing Europe-based professionals and failing to spot emerging talent in Cameroon, one of Africa's footballing superpowers.

The former Karlsruhe coach said he wants to watch as many domestic matches as possible.

He also denied reports he had been in contact with Egypt's football authorities about the national coach's vacant position there.

"As you can see, I am here in Yaounde, not in Egypt as has been reported," he said.

"I have never had any contact with the Egyptians.

"In fact, I first heard about my supposed imminent departure to Egypt only when one of you called me on the phone to ask if it was true I was leaving."

Schaefer negotiated a two-year extension to his contract on the eve of the Nations Cup in Tunisia, taking him up to the end of the 2006 World Cup which will be played in his native Germany.