Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) has officially dismissed Belgian head coach Marc Brys from his role with the Indomitable Lions. The decision was announced on December 1, 2025, by FECAFOOT’s Emergency Committee, just days after the federation’s presidential elections reaffirmed Samuel Eto’o’s leadership for a new mandate.
This abrupt change comes less than three weeks before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicks off in Morocco on December 21, raising serious questions about the team’s preparation and stability.
FECAFOOT wasted no time in restructuring the technical staff to steer the Lions through the upcoming tournament. Martin Ntoungou Mpile, a seasoned Cameroonian football administrator, has been appointed as General Coordinator to oversee operations.
Taking the helm as Head Coach/Manager is David Pagou, a local tactician with experience in Cameroon’s domestic leagues and youth setups, who will be supported by assistant Alexandre Belinga.
Pagou’s appointment signals a shift toward a more “indigenous” leadership approach, potentially aimed at fostering greater alignment with FECAFOOT’s vision under Eto’o.
Marc Brys’s time with the Indomitable Lions has been anything but smooth since his appointment in April 2024 by Cameroon’s Ministry of Sports, bypassing FECAFOOT’s preferences and sparking immediate friction.
April 2024: Brys is unveiled as coach after a heated clash with Eto’o, who had favored higher-profile candidates. FIFA ratifies the move, but tensions simmer.
– July 2025: Brys briefly resigns over unpaid wages and staff disputes but is persuaded to stay amid public outcry.
November 2025: Following Cameroon’s heartbreaking semi-final exit from the 2026 World Cup playoffs (a 1-0 loss to an unnamed opponent on November 13), Eto’o ramps up pressure for Brys’s removal, blaming the coach for tactical shortcomings.
Under Brys, the Lions qualified for AFCON 2025 with a mixed bag of results, including a 4-1 thrashing of Kenya in qualifiers but inconsistent showings that exposed defensive frailties.
Notably, his squad lists have controversially excluded stars like André Onana and Vincent Aboubakar, decisions that drew fan backlash.
This sacking isn’t just about performance—it’s the culmination of a deep-seated power battle between FECAFOOT (led by the influential Eto’o) and the Ministry of Sports under Narcisse Mouelle Kombi. Brys, caught in the crossfire, became a proxy for broader institutional clashes over control of the national team.