By Peter
The Cameroonian Football Federation has been thrown into chaos just days before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, following a bitter dispute between FA President Samuel Eto’o and national team manager Marc Brys.
Brys, the Belgian coach contracted until September 2026, has reportedly been informed by Eto’o that his tenure as Cameroon’s manager is over. However, Brys has refused to accept his dismissal, claiming he remains the legitimate coach until officially replaced by a presidential directive.
Two Squads, One Tournament
The dispute has led to an unprecedented situation: Cameroon now has two separate AFCON squads.
The FA, led by Eto’o, named a 28-man squad on December 1, appointing David Pagou—not Brys—as head coach. Pagou’s squad, accompanied by a new coaching team, featured notable omissions, including former Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana, ex-Bayern Munich forward Eric Choupo-Moting, and veteran striker Vincent Aboubakar.
According to sources, Eto’o’s decision to exclude Aboubakar was deliberate, aimed at preventing the striker from surpassing Eto’o’s all-time goal-scoring record for Cameroon during the tournament. Aboubakar is currently 12 goals short of becoming the country’s top scorer.
Brys Pushes Back
Unwilling to accept his dismissal, Marc Brys issued his own squad, reinstating Onana, Choupo-Moting, and Aboubakar. Speaking to Flemish outlet VTM NIEUWS, 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.”
On the squad exclusions, he added:
“How can you go to the Africa Cup of Nations without a world-class goalkeeper? Or without Aboubakar? It’s unbelievable, but actually, it doesn’t surprise me. It’s coming from someone who is narcissistic and thinks he’s the best.”
Brys also emphasized to TV5 Monde that, in the absence of a formal note from the Presidency of the Republic appointing Pagou, he remains Cameroon’s official coach in the eyes of the state—a situation he says has persisted in Cameroon for over 30 years.
The Stakes
With the tournament imminent, Cameroon faces a highly unusual scenario, where uncertainty over leadership and squad composition could affect preparations. Fans and analysts are left wondering which squad will officially represent the Indomitable Lions and how the internal feud might impact the team’s performance on the continental stage.
