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Cameroon is heading into the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with confusion on every side after a dramatic upheaval at the top of its football structure. Andre Onana, one of the country’s most recognisable players, has been excluded from the squad, and head coach Marc Brys has been dismissed amid accusations that paint a picture of a federation in open conflict with its own technical leadership.
Days after Samuel Eto’o was re elected as president of Fecafoot, the federation released a sharp and lengthy statement announcing Brys’ removal. The document accused the Belgian coach of professional failure and even suggested he encouraged players to go against the authority of Fecafoot. Other complaints included failing to attend scheduled meetings, refusing to provide training plans, endangering sponsor relationships, delaying squad announcements, and using subterfuge to avoid required press conferences.
Brys had been appointed by the sports ministry in April 2024 which instantly created tension. Eto’o opposed the appointment and made attempts to reverse it. The ministry insisted it had the authority to choose the coach while the federation argued it had exclusive rights to manage football operations. This clash set the stage for months of friction that never truly eased.
After Brys’ dismissal his assistant David Pagou has been thrust into the job. Pagou is experienced in domestic football but he now faces the heavy task of preparing a new squad for a major tournament with barely any time. His first list has already raised eyebrows. It leaves out some of the Indomitable Lions’ most important figures including Onana captain Vincent Aboubakar midfielder Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa and defender Michael Ngadeu. Anguissa is injured but the other absences remain unexplained.
This is the latest chapter in a cycle of coaching instability under Eto’o. Shortly after taking charge of Fecafoot in 2021 he parted ways with Toni Conceicao who had just delivered a third place finish at Afcon. Rigobert Song came in next guided Cameroon to the World Cup and then struggled at the last Afcon which ended his time in the role. Brys followed with resistance from the federation from day one and now he exits in the same chaos in which he arrived.
The situation leaves Cameroon vulnerable. Analyst Njie Enow has voiced concerns about how any new coach can build a system or create cohesion so close to the tournament. With several senior players missing the challenge only grows. Onana’s omission adds another layer given his rocky history with the national team from his early departure in Qatar to losing his starting place at Afcon 2023 and now being left out once again.
As Cameroon prepares for a tough group in Morocco the question is not just how the team will perform but whether all this turmoil will overshadow everything that happens on the pitch. The coming weeks will show how much damage this latest crisis has done to one of Africa’s proudest football nations.
