Cameroon have sacked manager Marc Brys following an emergency meeting called by Samuel Eto’o after the pair were involved in an explosive confrontation at a meeting.
Brys was appointed as Cameroon manager in April by the country’s Sports Ministry, rather than the football federation (Fecafoot) led by Eto’o.
Fecafoot had accused the sports ministry of unilaterally appointing the Belgian and suggested Eto’o name a new coach, but the former Barcelona and Chelsea striker opted to keep Brys in charge.
Eto’o, however, was not present at Brys’ unveiling as manager and the pair had an public confrontation at a meeting ahead of Cameroon’s latest qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Brys’ support staff were reportedly refused entry to the Fecafoot’s offices in Yaounde, while a video posted on social media saw Eto’o prevent a sports ministry official from attending the meeting.
A video saw Samuel Eto’o, left, confronting Cameroon manager Marc Brys at a meeting
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Eto’o was then seen clashing with Brys in their first meeting, with the country’s all-time top goalscorer demanding respect from the Belgian coach.
‘I’m the president of the federation. And you don’t talk to me like that, I was a coach too,’ Eto’o was heard saying.
‘As a footballer, you could never talk to me. You sit down and we work.
‘Stop this s**t, you think I could do that in Belgium, I was a coach.’
Brys reportedly responded ‘Yes, [for] three weeks’ in reference Eto’o’s five match spell in charge of Turkish side Antalyaspor.
The 62-year-old left the meeting despite Eto’o warning he risked being sacked, with the Fecafoot then calling an emergency meeting.
The federation announced that Brys has been replaced as head coach despite not taking charge of a game.
A statement accused Brys of making ‘disrespectful comments’ towards Eto’o and an ‘outright refusal to collaborate’.
Eto’o’s time as Cameroon football federation president has seen several controversies
Brys was appointed as manager in April following Cameroon’s exit at AFCON back in January
The organisation announced that Brys has been replaced by Martin Ndtoungou, who will serve as Cameroon’s interim head coach.
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Ndtoungou will be tasked with announcing an squad and preparing the team for World Cup qualifiers against Cape Verde on June 8 and Angola on June 11.
Cameroon are currently top of the group with four points from two games, earned under their former manager Rigobert Song.
Song was sacked in February after Cameroon were beaten in the last-16 at the African Cup of Nations.
Eto’o, one of the greatest Cameroonian footballers in all-time, scored 56 goals in 118 caps for his country.
His spell as Fecafoot has been hit by several controversies, including a reported feud with Man United goalkeeper Andre Onana and a violent altercation with a supporter in Qatar.
Eto’o and his close aides have also been accused of being involved in match-fixing, abuse of power, physical threats, inciting violence and spreading false information in Cameroon, with CAF said to be looking into various claims.
Eto’o has been involved in several controversial moments since becoming president in 2021
Eto’o and his lawyers have previously denied the claims, labelling them ‘calumnious rumours’.
The striker has alleged has is the victim of a CAF ‘campaign to undermine his reputation’, according to a report in the Guardian last month.
His claim followed CAF launching an investigation into ‘alleged improper conduct’ by Eto’o.
Eto’o had offered his resignation as Fecafoot president in February, but the move was rejected by the organisation.
