Cameroon decided to part ways with Andre Onana and also brought a new face to lead the team as they changed coaches by appointing David Pagou with a view to the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. A number of dramatic choices were made by the Indomitable Lions just after the news of their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup came out.
One of the biggest names to be quieted against the wind is Onana, who is on loan at Trabzonspor from Manchester United, and apart from him, among the people who have been in Cameroonian football for a long time, striker Vincent Aboubakar, a really important figure for almost 15 years, is also mentioned in the list of those who have been dropped. Their non-appearance means the Cameroonians will be undergoing a major overhaul as they gear up for the continental tournament from December 21 to January 18.
The change in the staff following the refusal of the president of FECAFOOT, Samuel Eto’o, to co-work with the outgoing Belgian coach Marc Brys, who was appointed by the sports ministry in April. Just after winning his new term in office, Eto’o did not hesitate to sack Brys and bring in his man, Pagou, 56, a respected coach in Cameroon’s domestic league. Besides him, pro-work Martin Ntoungou Mpile will also be on hand to guide the players.
There are still very good players in Europe who are going to play for the national team, such as Manchester United winger Bryan Mbeumo and Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba.
On December 24 in Agadir, Cameroon will face Gabon in their first match of AFCON Group F. Besides these two teams, the group also consists of the defending champions, the Ivory Coast and Mozambique.
