Ex-Black Stars striker Ibrahim Tanko has joined the coaching staff of the Cameroon national football team, GNA Sports can confirm. The 35-year old has joined the backroom staff of the four-time champions upon the recommendation of new Cameron coach, German Volker Finke. Finke, who has served as a mentor to Tanko since his days at German side SC Freiburg, officially introduced the Ghanaian to his new employers at a press briefing in Yaoundé last Tuesday.

According to Finke, Tanko, a UEFA license ‘A’ holder, will work alongside Cameroonians Martin Ndtoungou Mpile, Sylvain Monkam and Jacques Songo’o, all deputy coaches in his new role.

The former Black Stars forward is a trusted lieutenant of the German having worked with him at SC Freiburg, Urawa Red Diamonds and FC Koln.

“I take this opportunity to introduce to you Ibrahim Tanko, who was a great player. I have worked with him for a long time. He played in Germany for 12-years.

“The concept of number one or number two does not exist for me. We work together and it is not the hierarchy in the work that matters,” Finke told the press.

An official of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) told GNA Sports his outfit will soon finalize the appointment of Tanko, who Finke is keen on working with.

His first assignment will be this weekend's 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Togo in Lome.

For Tanko, it will be his first job since leaving German side FC Koln last year.

He joins the likes of Cecil Jones Attuquayefio and Sellas Tetteh as Ghanaians to have had stints with African sides. Attuquayefio handled Benin in 2003 whilst Tetteh had an unsuccessful tenure with Rwanda two years ago.

During his hey days, he had stints with Borussia Dortmund before joining SC Freiburg in 2001, where he retired six years later.

He was also a member of the Black Stars that placed fourth at the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.