André Onana's absence from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA Series in Australia continues to make waves. Former coach of the Indomitable Lions, Marc Brys, has publicly accused Samuel Eto'o, president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT), of being behind this exclusion.
According to Brys, the Trabzonspor goalkeeper is paying for his opposition to Samuel Eto'o. This rivalry, according to the former coach, is not a matter of simple sporting criteria, but a real institutional power struggle. Brys describes it as a waste of football talent, defending Onana's bold style of play, while highlighting his solid performances in Turkey.
"Eto'o left out important players, leaders, because he obviously made the list," Brys told Afrik Foot. He is surprised by the decision to do without a world-class goalkeeper and Vincent Aboubakar for a competition of this magnitude. Brys added: "These are players with character, who do not bow to the president".
The situation is further complicated by Marc Brys contesting his own dismissal from his coaching position. He claims to be still under contract with FECAFOOT until September 2026, having received no official communication from the Ministry of Sports. Brys even unveiled a list of players for the upcoming AFCON 2025, including André Onana, openly defying Samuel Eto'o.
Relations between Onana and Eto'o reportedly deteriorated since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the goalkeeper was sent home for disciplinary reasons. Although Onana returned to the national team afterwards, the tension between the two men remained palpable. Eto'o, for his part, stated that he had no problem with Onana, while insinuating that the player was responsible for his own exclusion.
This crisis comes at a delicate time for Cameroonian football, which is already under scrutiny due to governance issues. Onana's absence could deter other talents from fully committing to the national team, while FIFA could intervene if conflicts persist.
In the meantime, André Onana continues to play with Trabzonspor, away from the spotlight of the national team. Cameroon, for its part, must prepare for the next deadlines without its number one goalkeeper, in a climate of tension and uncertainty. The future of Cameroonian football will depend on the ability of the various parties to overcome their differences and prioritize the best interests of the national team.
The management of Cameroonian football is more than ever at the center of debates, with accusations of favoritism and settling of scores. Cameroon risks compromising its chances of future success if these internal squabbles are not resolved.
How many talents can the Indomitable Lions still afford to sacrifice?
