Cameroon’s Belgian head coach Marc Brys was dismissed on Monday by the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot), which met in an emergency committee and appointed David Pagou in his place, just 20 days before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
In charge since April 2024, Brys, 63, had been in open conflict with the federation and its president, Samuel Eto’o, who was recently re-elected to lead the institution.
During Monday's meeting in Yaoundé, the Federation decided to place its trust in a local coach, David Pagou, 56, who will be assisted by Alexandre Belinga and Martin Ntoungou.
Fecafoot listed eleven grievances to justify Marc Brys’ dismissal, which, according to the Federation, aims to “establish a calm atmosphere within the Indomitable Lions for optimal preparation and participation” in the AFCON, scheduled from December 21 to January 18, 2026, in Morocco.
However, Brys’ dismissal could reignite tensions within Cameroonian football institutions. Since his appointment in April 2024, several disputes had opposed the Belgian coach and the federation.
He was notably filmed publicly arguing with a representative of the Minister of Sports, as well as with former Cameroonian football legend Samuel Eto’o, now president of Fecafoot.
A rival coaching team had then been appointed in May 2024 by Samuel Eto’o and led by Martin Ntoungou Mpile.
The conflict had eased in early October 2024, after the ministry and the federation reached an agreement to keep Brys as head coach and assign him local technical staff chosen by the federation.
At the AFCON, Cameroon will face Côte d’Ivoire (the defending champion), Gabon, and Mozambique in Group F.
