Cameroon’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have descended into turmoil after head coach Marc Brys was sacked, with several key players, including Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana, omitted from the squad for the tournament in Morocco.
Days after securing re-election as president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT), Samuel Eto’o announced Brys’ dismissal in a strongly worded statement accusing the Belgian of “professional failure” and “subterfuge.”
FECAFOOT alleged that Brys incited players to defy the federation, collaborated with unidentified individuals within the organisation, failed to attend key meetings, withheld training programmes, strained relations with sponsors, delayed squad releases, and repeatedly dodged mandatory press conferences.
Brys, appointed in April 2024 by the Ministry of Sports—a move Eto’o fiercely opposed has been replaced by his assistant, David Pagou, an experienced domestic coach. Pagou’s 28-man squad, however, is missing major names such as Onana, captain Vincent Aboubakar, Napoli midfielder André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, and defender Michael Ngadeu. While Anguissa is injured, no official explanation was given for the other exclusions.
The coaching shake-up is the latest flashpoint in a prolonged power struggle between FECAFOOT and the Ministry of Sports over control of the national team. Brys’ appointment sparked immediate friction, forcing Eto’o to publicly apologise after a heated confrontation although tensions never fully eased.
This is also not the first managerial casualty under Eto’o’s leadership. Since taking office in 2021, the former Barcelona star has overseen the dismissals of Toni Conceição and Rigobert Song, despite intervention from the Ministry of Sports and even directives from President Paul Biya.
Brys’ recent failure to qualify Cameroon for the 2026 World Cup losing to DR Congo in the play-offs, appeared to seal his fate. The timing of Brys’ removal, just weeks before AFCON kicks off on 21 December, has sparked concern among analysts and supporters.
“It’s difficult to see how a new manager can build a cohesive system or unite the squad at such short notice,” Cameroonian football analyst Njie Enow told BBC Sport Africa.
With FECAFOOT and the Ministry yet to agree on who has final authority over the coaching job — and with the ministry maintaining silence for now — uncertainty continues to overshadow the Indomitable Lions’ tournament build-up.
The turmoil adds to a series of crises that have marked Eto’o’s presidency, including administrative disputes, public scandals, and growing opposition from within Cameroon’s football community.
