Cameroon Dismisses Manager Marc Brys; Andre Onana Left Out Of AFCON Squad

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Cameroon has dismissed manager Marc Brys just weeks before the Africa Cup of Nations begins. This decision coincided with the announcement of Cameroon's squad for the tournament, notably excluding Andre Onana. Brys, appointed in April 2024, faced opposition from Samuel Eto'o, president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot), who initially tried to reverse his appointment.

Brys was removed two months later after a heated exchange with Eto'o but was reinstated shortly after. Their relationship remained strained, leading to Brys' eventual dismissal following Eto'o's re-election. The announcement included allegations against Brys for avoiding press conferences and inciting players against Fecafoot.

David Pagou, previously an assistant, has taken over as manager and announced his 28-man squad for AFCON in Morocco starting December 21. Bryan Mbeumo is included, but Onana is not. On loan from Manchester United to Trabzonspor, Onana has played ten matches in Turkey's Super Lig since September, achieving three clean sheets.

The squad also lacks captain Vincent Aboubakar, Michael Ngadeu, and Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting. Additionally, Frank Anguissa will miss out due to a thigh injury sustained during national team training in November.

Cameroon failed to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup after losing to DR Congo in recent play-offs. They will commence their AFCON journey against Gabon on December 24 and will also face Ivory Coast and Mozambique in Group F.

The changes in management and player selection reflect ongoing challenges within Cameroon's football scene. As they prepare for AFCON under new leadership, the team aims to overcome these hurdles and perform well in the tournament.