Cameroon National Team Turmoil: Two Coaches, Dual Rosters Ahead of Africa Cup of Nations
Cameroon's national football team is in complete chaos just days before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off. Coach Marc Brys refuses to accept his dismissal by federation president Samuel Eto'o, creating an unprecedented crisis that has left the team with two different squad lists for the tournament.
The dispute between Cameroon's football legend Eto'o and Belgian coach Brys has reached a breaking point. Brys was originally appointed by the country's Ministry of Sports and insists he hasn't been properly dismissed. But Eto'o has already named a replacement coach, David Bago.
This creates a bizarre situation where Cameroon essentially has two competing coaching setups heading into Africa's biggest football tournament, set to take place in Morocco. Reports suggest each side has prepared their own squad list for the competition.
The timing couldn't be worse for Cameroon. The Indomitable Lions need stability and focus as they prepare to face some of Africa's strongest teams. Instead, they're dealing with internal power struggles that threaten to derail their campaign before it even begins.
This mess highlights deeper governance issues within Cameroon's football federation. When the sports ministry and federation president can't agree on who should coach the national team, it raises serious questions about decision-making processes and authority structures.
For players caught in the middle, the uncertainty must be incredibly frustrating. They need clear leadership and direction, not confusion about who's actually in charge of preparing them for international competition.
The situation puts Morocco, as the host nation, in an awkward position too. Tournament organizers need to know which officials and squad list to recognize as legitimate when Cameroon arrives for the competition.
Sara Khaled