The Cameroonian Football Federation has been plunged into disarray just days before the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off.
FA President Samuel Eto’o is said to be locked in a fierce dispute with national team manager Marc Brys, who is reportedly refusing to accept his dismissal.
Although Belgian coach Brys has not been officially removed from his position and remains under contract with the Ministry of Sport until September 2026, Eto’o has allegedly informed him that his time in charge of the national team is effectively over.
The power struggle has created major uncertainty ahead of the tournament, with Cameroon astonishingly announcing two different AFCON squads.
After an emergency committee meeting on December 1, the Eto’o-led FA unveiled a 28-man squad that listed David Pagou—not Brys—as head coach. Pagou, now recognized on FIFA’s official site, even held a press conference outlining the squad and Cameroon’s ambitions for the competition, appearing alongside an entirely new coaching staff appointed by Eto’o.
This squad also included several shock omissions: former Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana, ex-Bayern Munich forward Eric Choupo-Moting, and veteran striker Vincent Aboubakar were all left out.
According to reports from The Sun, Eto’o personally pushed for Aboubakar to be excluded in order to protect his own all-time scoring record for Cameroon. The 33-year-old striker sits just 12 goals behind Eto’o and, in theory, could overtake him during this AFCON.
On Wednesday, Brys still refusing to acknowledge his removal—responded by releasing his own Cameroon squad, reinstating the previously dropped stars.
Speaking to Flemish outlet VTM NIEUWS about his conflict with the former Barcelona and Chelsea star, Brys claimed: “Eto’o has always wanted to get me out as quickly as possible. From the very first moment, he insulted me, and I reacted. I was too much of a competitor for him.”
Commenting on the initial squad that omitted several senior figures, he added: “Eto’o left key players and leaders out. That selection was his doing. 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. This is coming from someone narcissistic who thinks he’s the best.”
He further told TV5 Monde on Tuesday: “Unless there is an official decree from the Presidency of the Republic appointing David Pagou as head coach of the Indomitable Lions, Marc Brys remains the coach in the eyes of the State of Cameroon. This is not up for debate, and this has been the protocol in Cameroon for at least 30 years.”
