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The Cameroonian Football Federation has been thrown into turmoil just days before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), following a deepening rift between federation president Samuel Eto’o and national team manager Marc Brys.
Eto’o is reportedly locked in a bitter feud with Brys, who is said to be refusing to accept his dismissal. The Belgian coach has not been formally relieved of his duties and remains contracted to the Ministry of Sports until September 2026. However, he has allegedly been informed by Eto’o that his tenure as Cameroon’s head coach is effectively over.
The fallout has plunged the country into uncertainty ahead of the tournament, with Cameroon now having two separate AFCON squads.
Following an emergency committee meeting on December 1, the Cameroon FA—led by Eto’o—released a 28-man squad for the competition, listing David Pagou, not Brys, as head coach. Pagou, who is currently recognised as the coach on FIFA’s website, even held a press conference last week to unveil the squad and outline Cameroon’s AFCON ambitions. He was presented alongside a newly appointed coaching staff selected by Eto’o.
The squad released by the FA also included several high-profile omissions. Former Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana, ex-Bayern Munich forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, and veteran striker Vincent Aboubakar were all left out. According to The Sun, Eto’o allegedly pushed for Aboubakar to be excluded to prevent him from breaking Eto’o’s all-time goal-scoring record for Cameroon.
Aboubakar, 33, sits 12 goals behind the record and could have surpassed it during the tournament.
In response, Brys—who maintains that he remains the legitimate head coach—issued a second Cameroon squad on Wednesday, reinstating the previously omitted trio.
Speaking to Flemish outlet VTM NIEUWS about his clash with the former Barcelona and Inter Milan star, Brys said: “It’s always been Eto’o’s goal to get me out as quickly as possible. From the very first minute, he insulted me, and I reacted. I was too much of a competitor for him.”
Referring to the squad that excluded Onana, Choupo-Moting, and Aboubakar, he added:
“Eto’o had left key players and leaders out of the squad, because he had made that selection.”
“How can you go to the Africa Cup of Nations without a world-class goalkeeper? Or without Aboubakar? It’s unbelievable, but it doesn’t surprise me. It’s coming from someone who is narcissistic and thinks he’s the best.”
Brys further told TV5 Monde on Tuesday:
“As long as there is no signed note from the Presidency of the Republic appointing David Pagou as the coach of the Indomitable Lions, Marc Brys remains the coach in the eyes of the State of Cameroon. This is not up for discussion, and it has been this way in Cameroon for at least 30 years.”
