Cameroon sack coach Brys, drop goalkeeper Onana for AFCON

On Monday, Cameroon dismissed their Belgian manager Marc Brys and excluded Manchester United keeper Andre Onana from the squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, set to begin on December 21 in Morocco.

The tense dynamic between Brys and Samuel Eto'o, the president of the national football association and ex-player, led to the coach's removal, which came as little shock following the nation's inability to reach the 2026 World Cup.

With eight participations in the World Cup, the highest for any African side, Cameroon missed an automatic qualification spot to underdogs Cape Verde for the event in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Offered another opportunity as one of the top four second-placed teams from groups, they suffered a 1-0 defeat against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Morocco recently, resulting in their exit.

Samuel Eto'o secured re-election as FECAFOOT leader for another four years over the weekend, promptly appointing local trainer David Pagou in place of Brys.

The 56-year-old Pagou has managed various clubs in Cameroon, such as Coton Sport, which has been the leading force in local football over the last ten years.

Currently on loan at Trabzonspor from Manchester United, Onana did not feature among the four custodians in the 28-player roster for Africa's top football event.

Pagou chose goalkeepers like Devis Epassy from Romania and Simon Ngapandouetnbu of Montpellier in France's second division.

Aboubakar axed

Among the selected players are two from the Premier League, namely Bryan Mbeumo of Manchester United and Carlos Baleba from Brighton.

Experienced striker Vincent Aboubakar, who plays in Azerbaijan and topped the scoring charts with eight goals at the 2022 AFCON in Cameroon, was unexpectedly left out.

Cameroon boasts five AFCON titles, surpassed only by Egypt's seven, and in the upcoming edition, they will compete against defending champions Ivory Coast, Gabon, and Mozambique in Group F.

The top two from each group, plus the four strongest third-placed sides out of six, advance to the knockout rounds.

In other news, Yoane Wissa of Newcastle United, sidelined by a knee problem, was omitted from the Democratic Republic of Congo's team picked by French manager Sebastien Desabre.

Players included are Sunderland's Arthur Masuaku, Noah Sadiki, West Ham's Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Axel Tuanzebe of Burnley.

Hossam Hassan of Egypt announced a 28-man squad for the tournament, featuring Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, who has faced challenges, and Omar Marmoush from Manchester United.

Salah claimed last season's Premier League Golden Boot with 29 strikes but has managed just four in 13 matches this term, and he sat out Liverpool's victory over West Ham on Sunday.

The Democratic Republic of Congo joins Group D with Senegal, Benin, and Botswana, whereas Egypt meets Angola, South Africa, and Zimbabwe in Group B.