World Cup (Q): Can Cameroon’s experience overcome administrative turmoil?

The Cameroon national team remain in the hunt for a place at the 2026 World Cup but the Indomitable Lions face plenty of pressure ahead of the four-team continental playoff that begins on Thursday. They begin with a semifinal clash against DR Congo, where the winner will meet either Nigeria or Gabon in the final on November 16.

This goal by Cape Verde’s Livramento on Andre Onana and Cameroon 😮 pic.twitter.com/9mVSEWXih9

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 9, 2025

The African powerhouse is in this position after failing to win Group D, where Cape Verde overshadowed them and earned a first-ever qualification to the World Cup finals after finishing the job with a home victory over Eswatini. While failing to achieve an expected finish in top spot, the Cameroonian team faced as many distractions and obstacles off the pitch as on it.

Ever since taking charge as head coach at the appointment of the country’s Ministry of Sports and Physical Education (MINSEP), Belgian tactician Marc Brys has been under fire from Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) president Samuel Eto’o. The renowed goal scoring legend Eto’o did not prefer Brys and has had no problems expressing his anger at the appointment, something that has come into public view on multiple occasions.

Samuel Eto’o président de la fédération et Marc Brys, le nouveau sélectionneur.

C’est chaud entre eux. 🇨🇲😵‍💫 pic.twitter.com/KlmQtLtOhh

— 🏆 Actu Foot Afrique (@ActuFootAfrique) May 28, 2024

In addition, the players have apparently not been getting along so well. Brys’ decision to appoint goalkeeper André Onana as captain for the final Group D matches in October was met with reported condemnation by other veteran players, creating more tension and doubts about the man management ability of Brys.

A fiasco around the release of the player list for the playoff may be the final straw for Brys, with plenty of rumors that he is looking for employment elsewhere if Cameroon are unable to qualify.

But what about on the pitch? Can Cameroon qualify for the World Cup?

Of course, this is far from the first time that there have been distractions off the pitch for the Indomitable Lions. Administrative chaos is a recurring theme in the nation’s football and the reality remains…this group of players is accomplished and more than capable of qualifying.

This is far from the most talented generation of Cameroonian footballers. But the star players are undeniable. Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo is in excellent form for his club (highlights below) and was co-leading scorer in Group D matches along with captain Vincent Aboubakar, a player on his last attempt to reach the World Cup who is also known for clutch performances.

In fact, there are perhaps too many options at the forward position for the Indomitable Lions. Rising talent Karl Etta Eyong is being rumored with transfers to elite European clubs but will likely be limited to a substitute role. Verstatile veteran Eric Choupo-Moting is another established option as well as Georges-Kévin N’Koudou, an alternative option who provides skilled dribbling and pace.

A central midfield duo of Carlos Baleba and André-Frank Zambo Anguissa could arguably be the best among African national teams.

The defense has been a bit of a weak point in recent months but still contains plenty of experience along with the well-known erratic play of goalkeeper Onana, who can be among the best in the world. However, his performances with Cameroon have more resembled his time with Manchester United rather than his current strong club form on loan at Turkish side Trabzonspor.

So the question, as usual, is clear: Which version of Cameroon are we going to see in the playoff? The version that shows up at big tournaments and puts it all together despite the off-pitch distractions? Or will it be the Indomitable Lions that we saw at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, who barely qualified out of the group stage?

With a stiff test against DR Congo in the playoff semifinal on Thursday, it is clear that the Lions can waste no time. With the four-team playoff taking place this week in the neutral location of Morocco, the situation may actually be to their benefit considering the experience and talent in the team.

However, this team is notoriously inconsistent and it is difficult to imagine two consecutive strong and composed performances. But based on the history of the national team, who qualified for the 2022 World Cup by going to Algeria and stunning their North African hosts in a playoff, the only rule with Cameroon is to “expect the unexpected”.