Indomitable Lions coach David Pagou has launched a scouting camp in Yaoundé, offering a golden opportunity for players from the local league to prove their worth and potentially join the national team. This initiative aims to identify new talents and stimulate competitiveness within the squad.
Pagou made it clear that this camp is a strong signal to local players, who are often seeking recognition. "The objective of this camp is to let all these players who play in our local league know that they are being followed, that everyone expresses their talent," he said. Beyond observation, the technical staff will assess the potential of these players for upcoming major events, including the Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The stakes are high for the invited players. They will have to distinguish themselves to convince the technical staff of their ability to contribute to the development and performance of the national team. "Every player wants to contribute to the development of our football and thus participate in the performance of the national team. This is a golden opportunity for those who will rise to the occasion," Pagou insisted.
This camp is a continuation of the lessons learned from the last Africa Cup of Nations, where certainties were identified within the squad. The goal is to broaden the options and inject healthy competition. "During the last AFCON, there were certainties, so we just want to add, boost and create this emulation and healthy competition so that everyone feels concerned to help the Indomitable Lions," the coach concluded.
David Pagou, who took over as head coach of the Indomitable Lions in December 2025, wants to revitalize Cameroonian football by giving visibility to local talents. He already had this idea in mind before his appointment: "Even before I was in the den, I wondered why we weren't more interested in our players. I watch the matches and I see that there is talent," he said. This gathering is a showcase for young talents and aims to stimulate the Cameroonian football ecosystem.
By giving local players a perspective, Pagou hopes to create a virtuous circle where every talent will feel concerned by the project. "It's about boosting all the teams so that every player feels concerned, to increase competitiveness, desire and attractiveness around our league," he added. The doors of the Indomitable Lions are open to local talents, provided they seize their chance.
This scouting camp takes place from March 6 to 10 in Yaoundé, just before the FIFA international window, where Cameroon will participate in the FIFA Series in Australia, facing Australia and the People's Republic of China. Pagou has named a 30-man local squad for this training camp.
David Pagou won the league title with PWD Bamenda in 2020 and the Cameroonian Cup. He was also assistant coach of Cameroon's CHAN team in 2020. His commitment to the development of local football is clear, and this camp is an important step in that direction. Samuel Eto'o, the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation, has defended his decision to increase Pagou's salary, stressing the need to value national expertise.
