In a surprising move just three weeks before the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Morocco (December 21 to January 18), Cameroon Football Federation president and former star Samuel Eto’o announced the dismissal of Belgian coach Marc Brys and the appointment of David Pagou as his replacement.
The decision came only days after Eto’o secured re-election as federation president, marking the first major test of his second term and reviving his long-running power struggle with the Ministry of Sports.
Brys’s removal was not merely a technical decision; it was another chapter in the ongoing tug-of-war between Eto’o and Sports Minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi. Earlier, the minister had insisted that his office held the final say in the coaching appointment, a stance Eto’o openly challenged—much like he did in 2022 when he dismissed Portuguese coach Toni Conceição and replaced him with Rigobert Song despite ministerial objections.
This dispute underscores the tense relationship between the federation and Cameroon’s political authorities. The minister even attempted to block the recent elections, but intervention from the Ministry of Interior, as well as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA, resulted in Eto’o securing a landslide victory with 85 out of 87 votes.
Eto’o didn’t stop at altering the technical staff; he also revealed a 28-man squad list for the tournament, sparking widespread controversy.
Notably excluded were goalkeeper André Onana—who has an ongoing public feud with Eto’o—defender Michael Ngadeu, and veteran striker Vincent Aboubakar. On the positive side, the squad featured first-time call-ups such as Bayer Leverkusen’s Christian Koufany and Brest’s Eric Dina Ebimbe. Meanwhile, one of the most surprising omissions was midfielder Jackson Tchatchoua.
A Pre-Tournament Crisis Unfolding
This abrupt coaching change puts Cameroon’s national team in a precarious position ahead of the continental competition, raising concerns about team cohesion under a new coach with little preparation time. Questions also loom over how the Ministry of Sports will react, given its claim to have authority over such appointments.
With key names like Onana and Aboubakar missing from the squad, the “Indomitable Lions” now face a difficult challenge in Morocco. Fans across Cameroon and the wider region are watching closely to see whether Eto’o can enforce his vision despite rising political and institutional tensions.
