Bryan Mbeumo is now with Cameroon for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, but things are far from normal in the Indomitable Lions camp
Bryan Mbeumo and Andre Onana of Manchester United walk out ahead of the Premier League Summer Series match between Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth at Soldier Field on July 30, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
Bryan Mbeumo and Andre Onana are both from Cameroon(Image: 2025 Manchester United FC)
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Ruben Amorim's season at Manchester United has been turbulent to say the least.
However, compared to what Bryan Mbeumo is experiencing with Cameroon's Africa Cup of Nations squad, all looks peaceful at Carrington. Just as the summer recruit was settling into life at Old Trafford, he's now leaving Manchester to represent his country in Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
However, his national team situation has become rather tumultuous, with two different managers calling him up. His ex-United team-mate and international captain Andre Onana is in an even more awkward position, as one manager has called him up and the other has not.
Marc Brys, the country's former manager who was dismissed by Cameroonian FA president Samuel Eto'o, maintains he still holds the position, despite David Pagou being appointed earlier this month. As the competition's start date approaches, two separate Cameroon AFCON squad lists have surfaced.
Luckily for Mbeumo, as one of his nation's standout players, he features on both. The same can't be said for Onana, who departed United for a loan spell at Trabzonspor following a disappointing start to the season.
Brys was let go by the Cameroon FA shortly after Eto'o, the legendary ex-Barcelona and Inter Milan player, was re-elected as the country's FA president with 97% of the vote. His relationship with Brys was strained from the outset.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - NOVEMBER 1: Goalkeeper Andre Onana of Trabzonspor reacts during the Trendyol Süper Lig match between Galatasaray SK and Trabzonspor at Rams Park Stadium on November 1, 2025 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Seskim Photo/MB Media/Getty Images)
Andre Onana was not selected by the current sitting Cameroonian manager
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The tension originated when the Cameroonian sports ministry appointed the Belgian manager over Eto'o's objections. Following the ex striker's re-election, he interpreted his mandate as authority to remove the Belgian from his position.
According to ESPN, a heated meeting between Eto'o and his committee concluded with allegations Brys had committed "11 infractions" including "disrespectful" and "biased" remarks, "professional misconduct" and "manipulation" of players, with specific accusations that he attempted to turn them against the country's FA.
Nevertheless, Brys maintains he has received no official notification from the Cameroonian FA about his dismissal, despite Pagou now being in place. He has continued working as normal, though the circumstances are anything but ordinary.
Samuel Eto'o of Team Cameroon arrives prior to the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Colombia 2024 Round Of 16 match between Brazil and Cameroon at Estadio El Campin on September 11, 2024 in Bogota, Colombia
Eto'o is the president of the Cameroonian FA(Image: 2024 FIFA)
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He put forward his own squad list for the competition, which included Onana alongside other experienced Cameroon internationals Vincent Aboubakar, Eric Choupo-Moting and Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui. On the same day, Pagou released his own squad for the tournament, notably excluding the aforementioned quartet.
Last week, uncertainty surrounded whether the omitted Onana, Aboubakar, Choupo-Moting and Ngadeu-Ngadjui would actually participate in north Africa. A Cameroonian official has clarified in the same source any player appearing on Brys' list but absent from Pagou's will not be involved.
The former manager of Cameroon, despite insisting he remains in charge, has expressed his anger over the current situation. He specifically criticised Eto'o, alleging the seasoned group of four have been side-lined because they questioned the authority of the former Chelsea striker.
Cameroon's Belgium coach Marc Brys looks on during the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) group J football match between Cameroon and Namibia at Roumde Adja stadium in Garoua, on September 7, 2024
Brys insists he has received no formal clarification he has been sacked
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Speaking to Afrik Foot, he said: "Eto'o has left out important players, and leaders, because he's obviously the one who made this list.
"How can you go to such a tournament without a world-class goalkeeper, or without Aboubakar? Because these are players with character, who stand up to the president."
Cameroon's tournament begins with a match against Gabon on Christmas Eve, followed by games against Ivory Coast on 28 December and Mozambique on New Year's Eve.