By Angu Lesley Ngwa A
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
Cameroon coach Marc Peter Brys says his side are now targeting a playoff place rather than direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, even though a slim route to finishing top of their group still exists.
“My position is to finish as high as possible. We would like to be the best second to qualify, and we’ll see after that — but finishing first is not possible,” Brys told CRTVweb.
The Belgian coach’s comments reflect a shift in expectations for the Indomitable Lions, who have struggled to keep pace with group leaders Cape Verde in the African qualifiers.
Cameroon currently sit second in Group D with 15 points from eight matches, four points behind Cape Verde on 19. Libya are third with 14 points. Only the team finishing top of each group will qualify automatically for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, while the best second-placed teams advance to the continental playoffs.
Away form proves costly
Cameroon’s campaign has been undermined by dropped points away from home. Their 1–0 defeat in Praia against Cape Verde in September proved particularly damaging, allowing their rivals to pull clear in the standings.
Draws in other away fixtures have also prevented Brys’s side from keeping pressure on the group leaders, despite maintaining a strong home record and a superior goal difference (+10) compared to Cape Verde (+5).
With just two games remaining — away to Mauritius and at home to Angola — Cameroon’s margin for error has effectively vanished.
A narrow path still open
Despite Brys’s downbeat assessment, the mathematics still offer a faint glimmer of hope.
If Cameroon win both of their remaining matches and Cape Verde fail to win either of theirs — away to Libya and at home to Eswatini — the two nations could finish level on points.
Given Cameroon’s stronger goal difference, that scenario could still see the Indomitable Lions finish top of the group and secure direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
However, Brys’s cautious tone reflects the low probability of that outcome and his desire to keep his players focused on securing the best possible finish, whether through direct qualification or the playoff route.
Cameroon have appeared at the World Cup a record eight times for an African team, most recently in Qatar in 2022.
Missing out on the expanded 2026 edition would be a major setback, but Brys insists the team will continue to fight.
“We want to finish as high as possible,” he said. “The objective now is to stay competitive and take every opportunity that comes our way.”
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