Brys has been in charge of the Indomitable Lions since 2024 and has gone undefeated in the 10 games he has coached the team. However, the Belgian now finds himself at the hands of FIFA.

Afrik-Foot revealed that Belgian publication Voetbalnieuws said that Brys’ agent, Ivo Chi, filed a complaint with FIFA over continued non-payment of commissions. It was estimated that the owed amount was more than €112,000 (R2.4 million).

Chi reportedly was key in helping Brys land the Cameroon job and now FIFA has been informed of the situation after it had been pending for a couple of months.

Brys has publicly clashed with Cameroon legend and president of the Cameroon Football Federation, Samuel Eto’o and he has been criticised for it by Tom Saintfiet, who has coached in Africa for years.

“If the government and the federation do not agree, there is a problem,” the current Mali coach said.

“And despite the egos, as a coach, you must always have respect for your chairman. The discussion we saw on television is unacceptable,” he added.

Source: Soccer Laduma

The management of Bamboutos FC de Mbouda recently erupted in anger at the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot), alleging a campaign of harassment and announcing their withdrawal from the ongoing MTN Elite One championship.

In a strongly worded letter addressed to Fecafoot President Samuel Eto’o Fils, the club stated, “We rightly note that our club is the target of a smear campaign orchestrated by the leadership of the football governing body in Cameroon. Match officials constantly distort the results of our games, with immediate effects on our ranking.” The letter served as notification of their decision to pull out of the league.

Attempts to contact Dechateau Kamdoum, the deputy president of Bamboutos FC de Mbouda, were unsuccessful. However, a senior figure within the team’s locker room corroborated the club’s claims, confirming that complaints regarding refereeing decisions have been a persistent issue since the season’s outset. “Last Sunday against Dynamo, it was impossible to play calmly because of the refereeing,” the source, who requested anonymity, disclosed. Dynamo de Douala ultimately won the match 1-0, much to the dismay of the “Mangwa Boys,” the club’s moniker.

This latest setback marks Bamboutos’ tenth defeat in 19 matches this season. With only three victories, their poor performance has relegated them to the bottom rungs of the league standings. Bamboutos FC de Mbouda currently sits in 14th place out of 16 teams, accumulating a mere 17 points – a relegation zone position that starkly contrasts with the club’s historically strong showings in MTN Elite One, where they were once considered a formidable contender.

The club’s management attributes this decline squarely to the federation, accusing them of orchestrating biased officiating. This is not an isolated incident, as Donald Ngameni, the former president of Unisport de Bafang, previously voiced similar concerns about refereeing standards. Fecafoot, however, has consistently denied these allegations. The federation maintains that Samuel Eto’o Fils’ leadership has elevated the quality of refereeing in Cameroon’s professional leagues.

“Samuel Eto’o brought Eddy Maillet to Cameroon to improve the quality of our referees and share his experience with them,” stated Stéphane Foko Kamga, president of Fecafoot’s Central Referees Commission (CCA), in February 2023. He added that this training aimed to align Cameroonian refereeing with the vision of the African Football Confederation (CAF) and continental standards.

Beyond refereeing disputes, financial grievances also fuel the conflict between the Mbouda club and Fecafoot. Bamboutos’ management is demanding over 90 million FCFA from the federation, representing various outstanding bonuses. The most significant portion of this sum is linked to Bamboutos’ triumph in the 2022–2023 Super Cup. This unpaid debt is cited as another key reason for their withdrawal from this year’s championship.

This is not the first instance of the club’s officials lodging such financial claims. They firmly believe that this demand, initially submitted in 2023, prompted Fecafoot to deny them a CAF license that same year, preventing the “Mangwa Boys” from participating in pan-African competitions. Fecafoot, however, contends that the club failed to meet all the necessary licensing requirements, citing outstanding player salaries as the primary reason for the rejection.

That particular episode significantly widened the chasm between the two entities. Many observers believe the ongoing feud is deeply intertwined with the deteriorating relationship between Samuel Eto’o Fils and Justin Tagouh, the former honorary president of Bamboutos FC. Once a fervent supporter of Fecafoot’s president, Tagouh has since become one of his most vocal critics.

Sources close to Samuel Eto’o Fils offer a contrasting perspective. Some suggest that Bamboutos FC is grappling with a severe internal crisis that threatens the club’s very foundation. A central issue is the departure of fans who were also significant financial contributors. This sentiment is echoed by the aforementioned player, who confided, “When the fans come to training, it’s to insult us.”

This toxic atmosphere, according to these sources, would explain the club’s financial woes. Indeed, the players staged a strike for several days at the beginning of the second half of the season, a fact confirmed by the anonymous source. Their protest centered on demands for several months of unpaid wages.

Source: Business in Cameroon

In the wake of a powerful public address by team captain Vincent Aboubakar earlier this week, the atmosphere surrounding the Cameroon national football team seems to be shifting. Following their impressive 3-1 victory against Libya in the  qualifiers, questions arise about whether the tensions between the President of Fecafoot, Samuel Eto’o, and head coach Marc Brys will finally begin to ease. This pivotal match not only bolstered the team’s morale but also highlighted the essential need for unity within the squad at a critical time.

Aboubakar’s passionate speech resonated with players and fans alike, calling for solidarity in the face of adversity. His words served as a rallying cry, emphasizing the importance of coming together for the greater good of Cameroonian football. The Lions, known for their fierce spirit and determination, are now facing a crucial juncture. It remains to be seen whether the leadership can align their visions to support the national team adequately on their quest for World Cup glory.

The clash of wills between Eto’o and Brys has been a consuming story in the backdrop of Cameroon’s campaign. The team’s supporters are hopeful that, with a string of positive results, the pressure will decrease and harmony can be restored. As the squad gears up for upcoming challenges, every fan will be watching closely to see if this newfound determination translates into sustained success on the pitch.

Source: Footboom

The second half of the MTN Elite One professional championship officially resumed last Sunday, with the first matchday expected to conclude later this week. Contrary to some national football observers’ predictions, all participating teams took to the field. “No team has issued an official statement indicating a boycott,” reported sports journalist Alain Denis Ikoul.

The start of this second phase had been uncertain due to threats of a boycott from several teams. These teams had presented a series of financial demands to the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot). Chief among these demands was a call for transparency regarding the contractual agreements between professional championship teams and various sponsors. Other demands included the payment of funds owed to the teams for the current season, and in some cases, from the previous year.

This threat of a boycott did not appear to significantly concern Fecafoot. As evidence of this, the Transitional Council for Professional Football (CTFP) consistently maintained that the championship would resume without any issues. The reasons behind the disgruntled teams’ decision to return remain unclear. However, as Alain Denis Ikoul noted, it is not uncommon for professional teams to express one sentiment publicly while acting differently.

Other observers suggest that the momentum behind the boycott movement may have waned. The specific reasons for this shift are currently not clear.

Source: Sbbc

Cameroon is set to host Libya in Yaoundé today as part of the sixth round of qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Following a scoreless draw against Eswatini in their previous match, the Indomitable Lions have fallen from the top spot in Group D, which is now held by Cape Verde. Another setback could significantly jeopardize their chances of qualification, especially if Cape Verde manages a victory in Angola.

During the pre-match press conference on the evening of March 24, goalkeeper André Onana acknowledged the team’s challenging situation, even describing it as a “crisis.” Nevertheless, the Manchester United shot-stopper emphasized that the squad’s morale remains high just hours before the clash with Libya. “The team is doing well, we’re calm,” Onana stated. “We’re going into this match with a lot of composure.”

Head coach Marc Brys echoed this sentiment. “It’s a good team,” the Belgian said concisely, referring to his players. While he admitted that the draw against Eswatini—considered the group’s underdog—was a “catastrophic” result, Brys remains optimistic. He noted that, unlike their last outing, the team has had more time for training and recovery. Onana and Brys also commended the integration of newcomers Danny Namaso and Nathan Ngoumou Minpole into the squad.

“For us, it’s important to win,” Brys conceded. He stopped short of labeling it a difficult match, but the standings suggest otherwise: this is a crucial moment for the Lions. According to the qualification rules, only the winner of each of the nine groups will automatically secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Cameroon, currently trailing Cape Verde by a single point, must overcome the deficit and surpass both Libya and Angola to maintain their World Cup aspirations.

Source: Business in Cameroon