World Cup (Q): More drama delays Cameroon squad announcement

A series of incidents behind the scenes continue to disrupt the Cameroon national team’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign and the latest episode is preventing the release of the squad list for the CAF region’s Second Round playoff. The Indomitable Lions will face DR Congo in the semifinal clash on November 13 with the winner set to face either Gabon or Nigeria in the final on November 16.

Coach Marc Brys has determined the players he wants to call but the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) will not release the list until the coach meets one demand. FECAFOOT is requiring Brys to travel to Yaoundé for a formal press conference announcement.

The coach, whose entire tenure with Cameroon has been under great duress due to his appointment by the country’s Ministry of Sports and Physical Education in conflict with FECAFOOT and president Samuel Eto’o, would rather avoid this formality. The playoff is set to take place in Morocco and Brys reportedly feels that an additional flight to Yaoundé would be a waste of time.

According to CamerounWeb, Brys offered his presence via a video conference through Zoom but it appears that FECAFOOT is willing to dig their heels in on this requirement. It is the latest incident in a cold war that has erupted into full display at times and has clearly had a negative impact on the performance of the Indomitable Lions.

In addition, Brys’ authority has been tested by an ongoing feud among his players. Goalkeeper André Onana and several other senior members of the squad reportedly clashed after Onana was given the captain’s armband for Cameroon’s final qualifying matches from the group stage. While the Lions won both matches, they missed out on direct qualification for the World Cup to Cape Verde.

With less than a week to go until the crucial semifinal match against DR Congo, it appears that once again it will be a challenge for the Lions to be fully focused on the task ahead.