Haan's first major assignment is against Rwanda next month

Dutchman Arie Haan has signed a two-year to coach Cameroon, one week after agreeing to manage the Indomitable Lions.

Sports minister Philippe Mbarga Mboa said the deal was renewable if Haan proved his worth in the 2008 African Nations Cup.

"You have the important mission of qualifying the Indomitable Lions for the 2008 African Nations Cup and above all winning it," Mbarga Mboa said at the signing ceremony on Friday.

"It is only then that we can decide whether to extend your contract or not," he added.

Haan was recruited last week to replace Portuguese coach Artur Jorge, who quit in February after failing to qualify the Lions for the World Cup.

Cameroon were knocked out of the African Nations Cup in the quarter-finals.

Mbarga Mboa urged Haan to look for new, young talent in Cameroon rather than building a team exclusively of foreign-based players.

He said, however, Haan would have a free hand in running the soccer-mad central African nation's team.

"I know Cameroon is one of the four biggest footballing nations in Africa," Haan said.