Marc Brys, in the eye of the storm of a legal and media battle between the Cameroonian government and the national football federation, Fecafoot, delivered this Friday, May 10, his first list for the first matches that he will manage at the beginning of June. A pre-selection of 30 players including Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Michael Ngadeu who are returning, as well as eight new faces.
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Marc Brys, newly appointed coach of Cameroon in the midst of controversy, delivered his first list. After touring the binationals and suffering a few refusals, starting with that of Hugo Ekitike on the Frankfurt side, the Belgian made a pre-selection of 30 players for the two upcoming World Cup qualifying matches.
Among the 30, the absence of certain elements present during the last CAN should be noted. Starting with the goalkeeper position, with the non-selection of Fabrice Ondoa, who had started most of the matches in Ivory Coast. On the defense side, Montpellier’s Enzo Tchato has disappeared from the list, as has Junior Tchamadeu.
Eight new kids
But above all, two executives are making a comeback: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, left aside by Rigobert Song at the end of his mandate, and Michael Ngadeu. Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo, injured for the CAN, is logically present.
In addition to these returns, eight new faces will wear the Cameroon A selection jersey. Among them the former Lille player Carlos Baleba, who hesitated with the Belgian selection. Just like the U23 internationals Jackson Tchatchoua, Yvan Dibango and Guy Kilama, as well as little surprises with Raoul Danzabe, James Eto’o, Jules Armand Kooh and John Nchindo Bosco. All these new figures will have a chance to find themselves on the match sheet to face Cape Verde and Angola on June 5 and 8.
An explosive context
A list delivered even though there is total uncertainty about the team of deputies and managers who will be at the head of the various Cameroonian teams for the upcoming deadlines. At the beginning of April, the Fecafoot was outraged by the appointment of Marc Brys by the Cameroonian Ministry of Sports.
Since then, if we look at the situation with an optimistic eye, the situation has improved somewhat. Indeed, Fecafoot recognized, with gnashing of teeth, Marc Brys as coach. But on one condition, namely that the body led by Eto’o carries out an overhaul of the staff. Particularly due to the presence of François Omam Biyik (1st assistant) and Christophe Manouvrier (physical trainer), both already present in Antonio Conceiçao’s former staff and dismissed by Eto’o after CAN 2021. As well as Benjamin Banlock, as coordinator of the national selections, with whom the former Barça player would be on bad terms.
New names have officially been proposed by the federation, with, among others, Carlos Kaméni as goalkeeper coach or Benoit Angbwa to serve as deputy to Benjamin Banlock. A list which will probably be brushed aside, according to information collected by the newspaper The world. A source at the Ministry of Sports, who wished to remain anonymous, spoke to the French daily: “ All people targeted (replaced by new nominations) have an employment contract. The attitude of the federation is a violation of the agreement between the Ministry of Sports and Fecafoot and a mark of distrust towards the institutions of the Republic. The state probably won’t let this happen. »
In the meantime, many scheduled meetings between Brys and Eto’o ultimately did not take place. Notably one this very Friday morning, organized by the federation to which Marc Brys did not attend and where certain members of the new staff appointed by the president of Fecafoot were present. And conversely, the latter was not present during the press briefing this Friday. And this, even though Brys said to himself “ open » to the meeting and dialogue with the former FC Barcelona striker.
At the heart of the standoff between the State and the federation to know who is legitimate and legally able to designate the supervision of the selection, the international federation, Fifa, has intervened. Without really getting involved for the moment, the governing body of world football has expressed its concern about the weight of politics in sporting choices. In its regulations, Fifa indicates that nominations relating to national selections are the preserve of the federations. Enough to give a little more weight to Samuel Eto’o and his family, who are increasingly alone in this matter. Recently, the Association of Amateur Football Clubs of Cameroon contested the parallel appointment of a new staff by Fecafoot.
The list of 30 preselected
Guardians: Simon Omossola, André Onana, Simon Ngapandouentbu
Defenders: Malcom Bokélé, Jean-Charles Castelletto, Ivan Dibango, James Eto’o, Guy Kilama, Harold Moukoudi, Michael Ngadeu, Jackson Tchatchoua, Nouhou Tolo, Christopher Woo, Collins Fai
Midfielders: André-Franck Zambo Anguissa, Carlos Baleba, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Raoul Danzabe, Martin Hongla, John Bosco Nchindo, Pierre Kunde Malong, Yvan Neyou, Olivier Ntcham
Attackers: Vincent Aboubakar, Christian Basogog, Jules Aramand Kooh, Didier Lamkel Ze, Brya, Mbeumo, Faris Moumbagna, Nicolas Ngamaleu, Georges-Kévin Nkoudou