Andre Onana Omitted As Fresh Turmoil Erupts In Cameroon Camp Ahead Of AFCON 2025

Cameroon’s preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations have descended into fresh uncertainty after Andre Onana was left out of a heavily altered squad, only hours after the national team was plunged into chaos by the dismissal of head coach Marc Brys.

The Cameroonian Football Federation, led by Samuel Eto’o, announced Brys’ removal in a dramatic statement that followed his recent re-election as Fecafoot president.

The federation accused the Belgian of a catalogue of “professional failure”, alleging he had “incited” players to challenge the authority of Fecafoot and had engaged in “active collaboration with unknown individuals within Fecafoot”.

Brys, appointed by the country’s sports ministry in April 2024 in a move Eto’o attempted to overturn from the outset, was further accused of skipping scheduled meetings, refusing to reveal his training plans, failing to meet deadlines for squad announcements and using “subterfuge to evade his professional obligation to hold press conferences”.

With Brys abruptly removed, assistant coach David Pagou has been asked to steady the ship just weeks before the tournament kicks off in Morocco on December 21.

Pagou, a respected figure in Cameroonian club football, has wasted no time in naming a provisional 28-man list. However, it is one that has already raised eyebrows.

Several of the country’s biggest names have been omitted without explanation. Manchester United goalkeeper who is currently on loan at Trabzonspor, Andre Onana, long-standing captain Vincent Aboubakar, Napoli’s midfield engine Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and experienced defender Michael Ngadeu are all missing. Only Anguissa’s absence has a known cause, with the midfielder currently recovering from injury.

The lack of clarity over the exclusions has fuelled speculation around deeper divisions within the squad and ongoing tensions between the federation and coaching staff.