David GOMBE
Andre Onana and Vincent Abubaker have been left out of Cameroon’s squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) president, Samuel Eto’o and his executive committee have sacked head coach Marc Brys.
Eto’o appointed the Belgian was appointed by Cameroon’s sports ministry in April 2024.
According to BBC, Brys is also accused of failing to attend meetings, refusing to disclose his training programmes, jeopardising relationships with sponsors, not releasing his squad selections on time and using “subterfuge to evade his professional obligation to hold press conferences”.
Eto’o has replaced Brys with one of his assistants, David Pagou, an experienced Cameroonian coach who has managed several teams in the country’s top tier.
But Pagou’s 28-man squad for the upcoming Afcon in Morocco, which begins on 21 December, is missing several key names.
They include goalkeeper Onana, team captain Vincent Aboubakar, Napoli midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and defender Michael Ngadeu.
Onana, who has 59 caps, is the most high-profile omission from Cameroon’s Afcon squad.
But it is perhaps not a complete surprise given his form at Manchester United before being loaned to Turkish side Trabzonspor in September, as well as his recent history at major tournaments.
Not only was he sent home early from Qatar 2022, he also lost his place in the starting line-up at the 2023 Afcon after delaying his arrival at the tournament in order to play an extra game for United.
Napoli midfielder Anguissa is out injured and will dearly be missed but Man United forward Bryan Mbeumo and Brighton’s Baleba make the squad.
Cameroon AFCON Squad;
The five time African champions will face holders Ivory Coast, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Gabon and Mozambique in Group F.
