Cameroon are in turmoil ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, with disputed coach Marc Brys and the Samuel Eto’o-led FA naming two different squads and Eto’o being accused of dropping Vincent Aboubakar to ensure he remains the nation’s all-time top scorer.
At the start of the month, shortly after Eto’o won an election to remain president of the FA, it was announced that Brys would be replaced by David Pagou, and that the Indomitable Lions’ AFCON squad wouldn’t include Andre Onana and Aboubakar.
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However, Brys was appointed by the country’s Ministry of Sport rather than by the FA, and says that only the ministry can dismiss him.
Stating that they have yet to do so in an interview with TV5 Monde, the Belgian is therefore adamant that he remains the Cameroon coach.
“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,” he said. “This is not up for discussion, and it has been this way in Cameroon for at least 30 years.”
As a result, he has submitted his own AFCON squad to the Ministry of Sport, including both Onana and Aboubakar in it.
“It’s always been Eto’o’s goal to get me out as quickly as possible,” he told VTM Nieuws. “From the very first minute, he insulted me, and I reacted. I was too much of a competitor for him.”
“Eto’o had left key players and leaders out of the squad. Because, of course, he had made that selection. How can you go to the Africa Cup of Nations without a world-class goalkeeper? Or without Aboubakar?”
“It’s unbelievable, but actually, it doesn’t surprise me. It’s coming from someone who is narcissistic and thinks he’s the best.”
Eto’o has long had a poor relationship with Onana, and remarkably, many insiders believe the legendary striker saw to it that Aboubakar was left out of new coach Pagou’s squad to ensure that he remains the nation’s all-time top scorer, as per The Sun.
Eto’o holds the records with 56 goals, while Aboubakar currently has 45 to his name.
The crisis has reportedly led to government officials and FA representatives holding talks, but with less than two weeks until their first match of AFCON against Gabon, it’s not yet clear who will be coaching the side or who will be playing in it.
