A lot on Bryan Mbeumo’s plate as Cameroon start AFCON amid federation drama and fading aura
Cameroon begin their Africa Cup of Nations campaign against Gabon in Morocco carrying far more than tactical expectations.
For the Indomitable Lions, as Cameroon are nicknamed, this opener is wrapped in history, uncertainty and unfinished emotional business stretching back more than four decades.
Few nations embody AFCON pedigree like Cameroon. Five continental titles place them second only to Egypt, and their name alone still commands respect across Africa.
Yet tournaments are not won on memory, and as they step onto Moroccan pitch once again, echoes of both glory and pain follow them closely.
Morocco has been kind to Cameroon before. When the kingdom last hosted AFCON in 1988, the Lions roared all the way to the title under French coach Claude Le Roy, edging Nigeria 1-0 in a tense final.
That team was rich in icons — Roger Milla, who dazzled his way to tournament MVP, Emmanuel Kunde with the decisive goal, and leaders like Stephen Tataw, André Kana-Biyik and Benjamin Masing among others.
This generation may not possess that same star-studded aura, but Cameroon’s self-belief remains deeply ingrained. The problem is not talent alone; it is turmoil.
What should have been a carefully managed build-up to AFCON 2025 instead unraveled into controversy.
Just days before the tournament, Federation (FECAFOOT) president Samuel Eto’o made the dramatic decision to sack head coach Marc Brys, accusing him of professional failure.
Brys had only been appointed in April 2024 by the Sports Ministry, and his dismissal once again exposed the long-running power struggle between the federation and government authorities.
Eto’o moved swiftly to install Brys’ assistant, David Pagou, a seasoned local coach. Yet Pagou’s first major decision (or Eto’o’s) was shocking but expected.
High-profile omissions from the final squad included goalkeeper André Onana and captain Vincent Aboubakar while Napoli midfielder André-Frank Zambo Anguissa is sidelined with injury.
AFCON 2025 was meant to be a reset for Cameroon, a chance to rediscover identity and pride after their World Cup bid was ended by DR Congo recently.
Instead, it begins under heavy clouds. A coach dismissed weeks before kickoff, senior players sidelined, and a federation locked in visible conflict.
There are still familiar names to rally around. Carlos Baleba continues to grow in stature in the Premier League with Brighton, though his form has been in doubt following a failed move to Man United.
Bryan Mbeumo brings pace and directness from Manchester United, and Christian Bassogog will have a lot to offer. But beyond them, the squad looks thin compared to Cameroon sides of the past, and cohesion will be tested immediately.
That challenge is magnified by the group itself. Defending champions Ivory Coast loom large, Mozambique are rarely straightforward opponents, and Gabon, inspired by the enduring presence of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, remain dangerous on their day.
There are no gentle openings here, and the Indomitable Lions must confront old demons.