Cameroon faces internal crisis ahead of AFCON as federation president Samuel Eto’o and coach Marc Brys battle for control, resulting in two different national team squads and the manager calling Eto’o “narcissistic” for allegedly dropping a star striker to protect his own goal-scoring record.
Cameroon is in turmoil days before the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) due to a bitter power struggle between FECAFOOT President Samuel Eto’o and national team manager Marc Brys.
Eto’o declared Brys’s time in charge was over, but the Belgian coach is reportedly “refusing the sack.” The resulting chaos has seen the African giants name two entirely separate AFCON squads.
The Cameroonian FA, led by Eto’o, named David Pagou as coach, and controversially omitted stars including Andre Onana and striker Vincent Aboubakar.
Brys then issued a rival squad reinstating the key trio. According to sources, Eto’o deliberately called for Aboubakar to be dropped to prevent him from breaking the president’s all-time national goal-scoring record.
Brys unleashed a furious response, telling VTM NIEUWS: “It’s always been Eto’o’s goal to get me out as quickly as possible.”
He added Eto’o is “narcissistic and thinks he’s the best,” and questioned the roster choices: “How can you go to the Africa Cup of Nations without a world-class goalkeeper? Or without Aboubakar?”