- Government has given Samuel Eto’o till the end of this week to complete formalities for employment of Marc Brys and Co as staff of the Indomitable Lions, replacing the Rigobert Song led crew
- The directives form the major outcome of an in-camera meeting chaired by PM Dion Ngute on Tuesday, April 30th at the Star Building.
- Eto’o has been charged to lay grounds for smooth operations of coach Brys and his crew to properly prepare the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier matches against Cape Verde Island and Angola scheduled for June
The government of Cameroon via its Prime minister and head of government Chief Joseph Dion Ngute has ordered president Samuel Eto’o Fils of the country’s football Federation to complete it’s obligation vis-a-vis the employment of Marc Brys latest this Friday, May 3.
kick442.com has gathered from reliable sources that the Cameroon football federation (FECAFOOT) met with the Prime minister in an in-camera meeting on Tuesday, April 30th during which the former was instructed to complete the formalities confed on his office and create a serene atmosphere for the new staff to get to work as soon as this week.
The move from the government represents its final efforts to get out of the imbroglio that has reigned since Cameroon’s minister of Sports and Physical education, professor Narcisse Mouelle Kombi unveiled Brys in a televised ceremony in the absence of president Eto’o.
Coach Brys at work in Belgium. He has also coached in Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands
Coach Brys was named replacement of Rigobert Song Bahanag in March but FECAFOOT boycotted his engagement ceremony citing family commitments on the part of its president before later announcing its president has been instructed to hire a new coach.
Why government opted to unilaterally hire Marc Brys
Since president Paul Biya’s famous September 2014 decree guiding the running of national teams, FECAFOOT has always been given the leverage to suggest the national team staff to the government by transmission of their choices to the ministry of Sports with whom they evaluate and forward to presidency for approval or otherwise.
But this time around, FECAFOOT’s suggestions that included Herve Renard, Jose Peseiro and Fabio Cannavaro as possible head coaches with Thomas Nkono as goalkeeper trainer and David Pagou as assistant were all rejected by government citing the expensive nature of the options.
FECAFOOT’s suggested technical crew options
In addition to the above, concerns about the Eto’o’s excess interference in the running of the national team were heighten when a video of the FECAFOOT president taking charge of training drills during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) filtered on social media. Per our understanding government took account of this and opted to name a coach with personality who will not tolerate a repeat of events of that sort which don’t dignify the Indomitable Lions brand.
The decision by government came six weeks after president Biya in a regular communications communion with youths on February 10 mentioned the state was putting a lot of resources on the running of the national team but needed to invest in proper organization and discipline taking into consideration events at the last AFCON in Côte D’Ivoire.
It’s important to note that per the presidential decree of 2014, it is the responsibility of the FECAFOOT and the government to pay the salary of the national team staff but in the past ten years government has unilaterally done that.
By being the only institution that pays the coaches salary, it looks logical to settle for an affordable option and one they are certain will serve professional and deliver results per the interest of Cameroonians.
The way forward
Though some have been quick to say events around the hiring of coach Brys can be liken to government intervention in running of football affairs and going as far as saying it can fetch a FIFA ban. However, it is important to note that government as the payer has always been the main party in the process though from the shadows in the past.
The Marc Brys led technical staff appointed in March 2024
Going forward, as government has ordered as a show of respect Eto’o has up to the end of this working week to respect the obligation and page way for smooth operations for coach Brys and his staff to focus on preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier matches against Cape Verde Island and Angola in the month of June.
As at this Wednesday, May 1, it has been decided that no adjustments will be made on the technical, medical and administrative staff assigned on the team via the March 2024 presidential appointments.
Coach Brys and his assistant Joachim Mununga spent the past two weeks in Europe holding discussions about the new vision while his other deputy Ashu Bessong Cyprien and Francois Omam-Biyik where doing same on the continent and in Cameroon respectively.
New Indomitable Lions staff pen contracts including its General Coordinator Benjamin Didier Banlock
Cameroon currently occupies top in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification group ahead of the likes of Libya, Mauritius Island, Eswatini having picked up four points from two games
The 61-year-old Belgian tactician who on his first coaching opportunity in a national team has been tasked to qualify Cameroon for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2025 AFCON plus have an honorable run in the competition.
In a related development, the former EH Houven coach has opted to live in Cameroon during the duration of his two-and-half years contract as lead trainer of the Indomitable Lions.
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