Andre Onana has been excluded from Cameroon’s squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations as the Indomitable Lions plunge into deeper administrative chaos following the dramatic dismissal of head coach Marc Brys.
Cameroon’s football federation, Fecafoot, led by Samuel Eto’o, announced Brys’ removal just days after Eto’o secured re-election as president.
The federation levelled a long list of accusations against the Belgian coach, ranging from professional negligence to inciting players against Fecafoot and using “subterfuge” to evade key obligations.
Fecafoot intensifies rift with sports ministry
Brys’ dismissal is the latest flashpoint in a power struggle between Fecafoot and the country’s sports ministry, which appointed him in April 2024 despite Eto’o’s immediate resistance.
According to Fecafoot, Brys repeatedly refused to attend official meetings, withheld training programmes, failed to release squad lists on time, jeopardised sponsor relations and avoided mandatory press conferences.
He has now been replaced by his assistant David Pagou, an experienced domestic coach tasked with steadying a team engulfed in controversy.
High-profile stars missing from squad
Pagou’s 28-man squad for Afcon features several notable omissions. Beyond Onana, the list excludes captain Vincent Aboubakar, Napoli midfielder André-Frank Zambo Anguissa and defender Michael Ngadeu.
While Anguissa is recovering from injury, the federation offered no explanation for the absence of the other senior players.
For Onana, the decision comes as a continuation of his complicated relationship with the national team.
Despite regaining his No. 1 shirt under Brys and featuring in last month’s World Cup play-off loss to DR Congo, his history at major tournaments has been turbulent.
He was suspended and sent home early at the 2022 World Cup and later lost his starting spot at the 2023 Afcon after arriving late due to club commitments.
Sacked Cameroonian coach Marc Brys
Eto’o’s tenure faces further scrutiny
This episode adds to a growing catalogue of controversies under Eto’o’s presidency.
Since taking office in 2021, his administration has overseen the dismissal of multiple coaches, including Toni Conceição and Rigobert Song, often amid friction with the sports ministry.
Brys himself had been sacked and reinstated once already this year after a heated confrontation with Eto’o.
Afcon challenge looms
With Afcon beginning on 21 December in Morocco, the timing of Brys’ removal and the exclusion of key players has raised major concerns.
Cameroonian analyst Njie Enow, speaking to BBC Sport Africa, warned that it will be difficult for a new manager to establish a cohesive system or create the structure needed for players to thrive in the upcoming AFCON.
Cameroon face defending champions Ivory Coast, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Gabon and Mozambique in Group F.