Newly appointed head coach David Pagou has unveiled Cameroon’s squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025, and it’s missing some of the biggest names in Indomitable Lions history.
André Onana, Vincent Aboubakar, Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui, Jackson Tchatchoua, and Martin Hongla – pillars of past campaigns and symbols of Cameroonian grit abroad – have all been left out.
The announcement, coming hot on the heels of a messy sacking of previous coach Marc Brys amid a reported “leadership crisis,” has ignited a firestorm of debate, from the dusty streets of Douala to the expatriate communities in Europe. Is this a bold reset for a team missing out the World Cup 2026 or a reckless gamble that could doom Cameroon’s hopes in Morocco?
The squad list, dropped like a thunderclap this morning, leans heavily into youth and resurgence.
Standouts include Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, poised to take the captain’s armband in Aboubakar’s absence, Napoli’s André-Frank Zambo Anguissa anchoring midfield, and promising debutants like Bayer Leverkusen’s Christian Kofane up top.
Goalkeeping duties fall to the reliable Devis Epassy of Dinamo București as the No. 1, backed by Simon Omossola, Simon Ngapandouetnbu, and Édouard Somgang – a clear pivot away from Onana’s star power.
Defensively, it’s a blend of experience (Nouhou Tolo, Collins Fai) and fresh blood (Flavien Enzo Boyomo, James Willy Djeungoue), but the omissions of Ngadeu and Hongla leave gaping questions about aerial dominance and tactical nous.
Pagou, a 48-year-old tactician promoted from the U-23 setup after Brys’ abrupt exit, defended the selections in a terse press conference: “We’re building for tomorrow, not reliving yesterday.
These players have fire in their bellies – that’s what wins tournaments.” But across Cameroon, the backlash is immediate and visceral.
The exclusions come amid whispers of internal fractures – Onana’s controversial captaincy appointment during the World Cup qualifiers reportedly irked federation officials, while Aboubakar’s waning club form (at Azerbaijan’s Neftçi Baku) and age (33) made him an easy target, though hardly a unanimous one.
The AFCON 2025 kicks off in Morocco on December 18.