Cameroon’s AFCON turmoil continues to spiral as the power struggle between the Ministry of Sports and FECAFOOT plunged the Indomitable Lions into yet another extraordinary standoff. What should have been a routine squad announcement turned into a national spectacle, with two competing lists released on the same day.
Marc Brys, recently dismissed but still defiant, unveiled his own AFCON squad in Yaoundé. Hours later, newly appointed coach David Pagou presented a completely different “official” list under Ministry authority. The result: a bewildered public and a team in open administrative war just days before the tournament.
Already, the omission of household names André Onana and Vincent Aboubakar had caused national uproar, but the latest twist escalated the controversy dramatically. After midfielder Brice Ambina pulled out, Pagou opted to replace him with Maël Kamdem — a 25-year-old little-known midfielder currently playing in Brazil’s sixth division for Sinop Futebol Clube.
The call-up stunned Cameroonians. In a country that exports elite talent to Europe’s top leagues, turning to a player competing far away from professional-level football felt, to many, like a symbol of the chaos gripping the federation.
With AFCON 2025 fast approaching, Kamdem’s surprise selection has become a lightning rod for public frustration — a stark illustration of a national team caught between political power plays, institutional breakdown, and sporting uncertainty. For the Indomitable Lions, the road to Morocco is looking more turbulent than ever.