The Sun has reported a dramatic and controversial development surrounding Cameroonian football, claiming that Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), may have intervened directly in national team selection to protect his long-standing goal-scoring record.
According to the publication, tensions have escalated after the surprising omission of veteran striker Vincent Aboubakar from the provisional Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad. Aboubakar, widely regarded as one of Cameroon’s most influential players in recent years, has scored 45 goals in 116 appearances—placing him just 11 goals behind Eto’o’s national record of 56 goals in 118 matches. The report alleges that Eto’o, fearing that the 32-year-old forward may eventually surpass his record, influenced decisions to exclude him from the squad.
This claim comes at a particularly turbulent moment for Cameroonian football. Eto’o was recently re-elected as FECAFOOT president, and shortly afterward, he dismissed the national team’s head coach. In his place, he appointed David Pagou as interim manager. Pagou’s first squad list for AFCON, however, raised eyebrows not only for the omission of Aboubakar but also for leaving out Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana. Onana has had a complicated relationship with the federation in recent years, and his absence only intensified debates about political interference, favouritism, and unrest behind the scenes.
Yet the drama did not stop there. Despite being officially relieved of his duties, former head coach Marc Brys has insisted that he remains the legitimate manager, pointing to his appointment by the Ministry of Sports rather than by FECAFOOT. In a bold move, Brys submitted his own squad list directly to government officials—a list that includes both Aboubakar and Onana. This has now created an unprecedented situation where Cameroon effectively has two competing head coaches, each claiming authority and each presenting their own version of the national team roster.
The disagreement has plunged the country into a governance crisis at a time when stability is most needed. Cameroon had already endured significant setbacks earlier in the year, including domestic political unrest that contributed to their failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Now, with AFCON only weeks away, the national team finds itself at the centre of a power struggle between FECAFOOT and the Ministry of Sports.
With the final squad submission deadline set for December 11, urgent meetings are underway involving senior government officials, FECAFOOT executives, and other stakeholders. Their priority is to resolve the conflict before it completely derails Cameroon’s AFCON preparations. Supporters and former players have expressed concern that the ongoing feud risks overshadowing the team’s competitive ambitions and could damage the morale of players caught between two rival authorities.
Whether the allegations against Eto’o are true remains unclear, but what is certain is that Cameroon is facing one of the most chaotic periods in its footballing history. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether unity can be restored before the team heads into Africa’s biggest football tournament.