Long one of Africa’s footballing heavyweights, the Indomitable Lions’ build-up to Morocco has been dominated not by tactics or training, but by power struggles, sackings, and squad controversies that have threatened to derail their campaign before a ball is kicked.
Just weeks prior to the AFCON, Cameroon were embroiled in a bitter institutional dispute. Belgian coach Marc Brys, appointed in April 2024 by Cameroon’s Ministry of Sport, publicly refused to accept his dismissal despite the president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), Samuel Eto’o, declaring him sacked.
Brys’s stance was technical, as he had yet to receive formal notification of termination from the Presidency. He insisted that only he remains the official head coach and even submitted his own squad, including stars like Andre Onana and Vincent Aboubakar, ahead of the AFCON deadline.
Meanwhile, FECAFOOT has appointed local coach David Pagou as the new manager and released a 28-man squad that excludes Onana and Aboubakar, along with other seasoned internationals.
The result? Two conflicting squads and no universally recognised leadership structure heading into Morocco. The saga sparked government involvement and media uproar, with accusations flying about mismanagement and personal vendettas.
Star Power Omitted: The costly decision to leave out names
The omissions are significant. Andre Onana, Manchester United’s goalkeeper on loan at Trabzonspor, has been one of Africa’s most high-profile shot-stoppers, yet he finds himself left out of Pagou’s list.
The exclusion of Vincent Aboubakar, Cameroon’s long-serving captain and key scorer in recent tournaments, has been particularly controversial.
Some reports even allege that internal politics, including Eto’o’s personal legacy as Cameroon’s all-time top scorer, may have played a part in the decision to sideline Aboubakar, who is nearing that record.
Other experienced figures like midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (out injured) and defender Michael Ngadeu are absent, leaving a squad mixed with emerging talents and overseas-based pros such as Bryan Mbeumo and Carlos Baleba.
A troubled recent history
Cameroon’s gradual slide from continental dominance long predates the current crisis engulfing the national team.
Despite being one of Africa’s most storied footballing nations and the first from the continent to reach a World Cup quarter-final, the Indomitable Lions have struggled to sustain consistency on the global stage in recent years.
Although Cameroon remain Africa’s most frequent World Cup participants with eight appearances, they have now missed out on three consecutive tournaments, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where defeat to DR Congo in the play-offs brought another painful setback. Each failure has chipped away at the aura that once made Cameroon a feared opponent.
At AFCON level, success since their surprise triumph in 2017 has been sporadic rather than dominant. The Lions were eliminated at the round-of-16 stage in 2019 and again suffered the same fate in 2023, results that fell short of expectations for a five-time champion.
There was, however, a brief resurgence at the 2021 AFCON on home soil, where Cameroon finished third, buoyed by strong home support and moments of individual brilliance, even if they ultimately fell short of the title.
As a result, Cameroon head into AFCON 2025 no longer among the outright favourites, but as a side rich in history, capable of upsetting stronger opponents, and dangerous if momentum and belief are rediscovered at the right time.
Echoes of 2017: Can chaos be a catalyst?
There is a historical precedent for Cameroon rising above internal strife. In the 2017 AFCON, the Lions were not without problems, yet managed to win the tournament against the odds, defeating Egypt 2-1 in the final.
Back then, coach Hugo Broos took bold decisions and instilled discipline after eight players – Liverpool’s Joel Matip, West Brom’s Alan Nyom, Schalke’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Nancy’s Guy N’Dy Assembé, Bordeaux’s Maxime Poundjé, Ajax’s Andre Onana, Marseille’s André-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Lille’s Ibrahim Amadou – made themselves unavailable for selection before the tournament.
The parallels between Broos in 2017 and Pagou in 2025 are striking. Like Broos, Pagou arrives without prior experience coaching a national team and steps into an environment stripped of several so-called big names.
Broos was an outsider then, not even on Cameroon’s initial shortlist, inherited a young, largely unheralded squad that many felt had been weakened by high-profile withdrawals.
Instead, he saw opportunity. By enforcing clear internal rules, demanding discipline and reshaping the team’s mentality, Broos transformed a fractured group into a united, motivated collective that defied expectations to win the AFCON.
Pagou now finds himself in a remarkably similar position. A respected figure in Cameroon’s domestic game rather than a global name, he takes charge amid turmoil, political tension and controversial omissions.
His squad is youthful, lean on egos and heavy on hunger; conditions that once worked in Broos’ favour. Known for structure, discipline and player management, Pagou has the tools to build cohesion quickly.
As in 2017, success may depend less on star power and more on whether unity, clarity of roles and belief can once again turn chaos into a catalyst.
Tough tests await in Group F
Cameroon’s journey will not be easy. Drawn into Group F with holders Ivory Coast, Gabon and Mozambique, the Lions must overcome capable opponents to progress.
Without clear leadership and with key absentees, they may struggle. However, Mbeumo’s quality and Baleba’s dynamism give them tangible threats.
If Pagou can forge unity and extract maximum effort from his squad, a deep run is within reach — but the title? Only if the team’s internal wrangles are resolved swiftly.
Whether Cameroon’s crisis becomes a catalyst for unity or an albatross around the Lions’ necks remains to be seen.
As Morocco beckons, one thing is certain: Cameroon’s journey will be one of the most compelling narratives of the tournament and perhaps one of its most unpredictable.
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