Former Cameroon head coach Marc Brys has launched a scathing attack on Samuel Eto’o, accusing the FECAFOOT president of using his renewed mandate to engineer what he describes as an “illegal and ridiculous coup” to remove him just 20 days to AFCON 2025.
Brys, speaking publicly for the first time since his dismissal, claimed Eto’o had targeted him for months and finally acted after securing a fresh four-year mandate with no opposition.
“Recently, the mandate of the great president Samuel Eto’o was extended for four more years. In fact, there wasn’t even another candidate. In my view, he drew strength from this situation to carry out an illegal and ridiculous coup.”
He insisted the manner of his removal – announced abruptly by FECAFOOT – was proof Eto’o had long planned his exit, especially after Cameroon’s failed World Cup playoff last month increased pressure on the federation.
According to Brys, Eto’o overstepped his authority by stripping the Ministry of Sports of its appointed technical staff and replacing them with his own choices.
“He removed all positions at the Ministry of Sports, including the technical staff of the national team, and filled them with people of his choosing. Firing everyone without valid reason seems completely illegal to me.”
He warned that appointing unprepared staff so close to a major tournament was unfair to the team:
“Right before a major tournament, he appoints people who are not prepared. They’re being thrown to the wolves. This doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world.”
His departure ends months of open conflict between FECAFOOT and the Ministry of Sports, who initially backed his appointment. David Pagou will now lead the Indomitable Lions at AFCON 2025 in Morocco.
