World Cup (Q): Cameroon unveils player list after confusion

After a period of uncertainty, the list of the Cameroon national team has been confirmed ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff beginning on Thursday.

Ahead of their semifinal clash against DR Congo on November 13, the ongoing internal conflict in the Indomitable Lions setup reared its ugly head once again. Head coach Marc Brys refused to travel to Yaoundé to officially unveil his list of players, since the playoff will take place in Morocco, and meet the demand made by the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT).

The uncertainty led to plenty of confusion. In one example, Bayer Leverkusen forward Christian Kofane was named in an initial list but was soon replaced by Toulouse forward Frank Magri.

Even at the time of publication, FECAFOOT published the official list earlier on Tuesday but has since deleted the post from their social media pages. These are the 28 players listed on social media before the post was deleted:

Cameroon squad for 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff

Goalkeepers: Simon Omossola (Saint-Éloi Lupopo, DR Congo), André Onana (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Devis Epassy (Dinamo Bucharest, Romania).

Defenders: Jackson Tchatchoua (Wolverhampton, England), Jean-Charles Castelletto (Al-Duhail, Qatar), Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders, USA), Michael Ngadeu (Beijing Guoan, China), Mahamadou Nagida (Rennes, TurGöe), Malcom (Lorient, France), Enzo Boyomo (Osasuna, Spain).

Midfielders: André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Naples, Italy), Carlos Baleba (Brighton, England), Danny Namaso (Auxerre, France), Arthur Avom (Lorient, France), Martin Hongla (Granada, Spain), Yvan Neyou (Getafe, Spain), Jean Onana (Genoa, Italy), Wilitty Younoussa (Rodez, France).

Forwards: Christian Bassogog (Al-Okhdood, Saudi Arabia), Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United, England), Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu (Dynamo Moscow, Russia), Frank Magri (Toulouse, France), Vincent Aboubakar (Neftchi Baku, Azerbaijan), Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (New York Red Bulls, USA), Georges-Kévin Nkoudou (Al-Diriyah, Saudi Arabia), Patrick Soko (Almeria, Spain), Karl Etta Eyong (Levante, Spain).

Brys will turn to his veteran players to get the job done. The likes of Eric Choupo-Moting and Vincent Aboubakar join fellow attacking star Bryan Mbeumo. Key midfielders Frank Anguissa and Carlos Baleba will also be involved and are in good form for their clubs.

A familiar defense will count on Jackson Tchatchoua, team leader Michael Ngadeu and goalkeeper André Onana, who is rediscovering his form on loan at Turkish club Trabzonspor after a difficult period at parent club Manchester United.

The Indomitable Lions face the Leopards of DR Congo on Thursday, with the winner set to face the victor in the other semifinal on Thursday between Nigeria and Gabon. The winner of the four-team playoff qualifies for the inter-continental playoff tournament that will take place in Mexico next March. Two teams will qualify for the finals from the inter-continental playoff.