Marc Brys' Unwavering AFCON Hope Amidst Cameroon Turmoil
Marc Brys has steadfastly refused to accept his sacking as Cameroon manager, instead forging ahead with naming his squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament. Amidst a feud with Fecafoot's president Samuel Eto'o and uncertainty over his position, Brys remains resolute in his commitment to lead the Indomitable Lions.
Marc Brys has refused to acknowledge his sacking as Cameroon manager, instead naming his squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament. The Belgian has been feuding with Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) president Samuel Eto'o and was recently dismissed from his post, but is staying resolute as he is yet to receive a proper termination notice.Brys remains under contract with the Ministry of Sport until September 2026 and is yet to receive an official termination notice. As such, the Belgian manager is refusing to accept his dismissal from the hands of former Inter and Barcelona striker Eto'o, with the pair feuding intensely over the past year or so. David Pagou is expected to be named as Brys' official successor, having been cited as Cameroon's manager on FIFA's website. However, the situation is a messy one, and Brys seemingly has no desire to leave, instead naming the squad he intends to take with him to Morocco for the upcoming AFCON tournament.Speaking to TV5 Monde on Tuesday, Brys doubled down on his position in charge of the national team and continued his feud with Eto'o, saying: "As long as there is no signed note from the Presidency of the Republic appointing David Pagou as the coach of the Indomitable Lions, in the eyes of the State of Cameroon, Mr. Marc Brys remains. This is not up for discussion, and it has been this way in Cameroon for at least 30 years.He added to Afrik-Foot: “How can we go and compete in such a tournament without a world-class goalkeeper, or without [Vincent] Aboubakar? Because these are players who have character, who stand up to the president. It’s incredible, but it doesn’t surprise me coming from someone who is narcissistic, who thinks he’s the most handsome.” Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!It's been a tough few years for Onana. After signing from Inter Milan in 2023, the 29-year-old made a catalogue of errors across two seasons with Manchester United and was eventually dropped as their starting goalkeeper by Ruben Amorim. Back-up stopper Altay Bayindir was initially handed the gloves, but summer signing Senne Lammens has since been deployed between the sticks and has started his career at Old Trafford in calm fashion.Onana, who is now on loan at Trabzonspor in a squad that features household names such as Stefan Savic and Paul Onuachu, was not included in Pagou's final AFCON squad either. However, he could benefit if Brys remains in charge, having been named on the manager's alternative list. The goalkeeper has previously had issues while playing for his national team, most notably being sent home from the 2022 World Cup by then-manager Rigobert Song due to disciplinary problems. He played just three times in 2023 but has featured more regularly over the past two years. Also among the players named on Brys' list are United star Bryan Mbeumo, Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, former Bayern Munich and Stoke striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Aboubakar, who is behind only Eto'o in the list of Cameroon's greatest ever goalscorers.Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingCameroon's predicament is clearly a tricky one with a lot of strange things happening all at once. It's hardly ideal with their first game at AFCON coming in two weeks on Christmas Eve, with their campaign starting against Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's Gabon. They also face the Ivory Coast and Mozambique in the group stage, but they are not considered to be among the favourites to lift the cup come the end of the tournament.Instead, hosts Morocco are one of the heavily fancied teams. They have home advantage and also boast talented players with the likes of Achraf Hakimi, Yassine Bounou, Sofyan Amrabat and Noussair Mazraoui among those at manager Walid Regragui's disposal. Senegal, Algeria, Egypt and the Ivory Coast will all hope for strong showings, while DR Congo beat both Cameroon and Nigeria on their way to booking a place in the inter-confederation playoffs for the 2026 World Cup.
The Feud and Standoff
Marc Brys finds himself in the midst of a contentious dispute with the Cameroonian Football Federation president Samuel Eto'o, following his dismissal as the national team manager. Despite the chaos surrounding his tenure, Brys is holding firm due to the absence of an official termination notice, asserting his position at the helm until explicitly directed otherwise.
AFCON Squad Selection Drama
Defying the odds, Brys has named his squad for the upcoming AFCON tournament, signaling his intent to lead the Indomitable Lions to glory in Morocco. Notably, the inclusion of Andre Onana on the alternative list hints at possible redemption for the embattled goalkeeper, who has faced struggles both at the club and national team levels.
Tournament Outlook and Contenders
Amidst Cameroon's turbulent preparations, the AFCON promises to be a fiercely contested tournament with hosts Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Egypt, and the Ivory Coast all aiming for success. The intrigue surrounding Cameroon's campaign adds a layer of unpredictability, with on-field performances set to paint a picture of resilience amidst off-field turmoil.





