The appointment of Belgian gaffer, Marc Brys as head coach of Cameroon’s national team by the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education (MINSEP) in Cameroon has stirred mass reactions and contention.
The 61-year-old Belgian, who was most recently at OH Leuven, was chosen to replace former Liverpool and West Ham defender Rigobert Song on April 2, 2024.
However, the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) said it was unaware the appointment “taken unilaterally”.
“The Cameroonian Football Federation learned, at the same time as all Cameroonians, of the appointment to positions of responsibility within the national senior men’s football selection,” a FECAFOOT statement on social media read.
The appointment once more reveals the age-old friction and mutual distrust that existS between FECAFOOT officials and their counterparts of MINSEP.
Though the roles are well defined, they often appear to intentionally infringe on each others’ domains at the expense of the country’s football development.
Football is a money mine and the stakeholders never shy from focusing more on satisfying their appetites for money than its promotion. This greed has blurred the vision and as such led to clash of interests, especially each time a new coach has to be designated for the Indomitable Lions.
Enter Brys and team
In an extensive lookout, Brys’ coaching career stats have been heavily criticised. The Belgian tactician has managed a total of 628 games, with 234 wins, 231 losses, and 163 draws, resulting in a win percentage of approximately 37.29%.
Though he previously managed several clubs, including Germ Beerschot, R.E Mouscron, FC Eindhoven, and others, it will be his first coaching challenge with a national team.
This marks the third time a Belgian coach has taken charge of the Indomitable Lions. He will be closely assisted by Cameroon’s Omam Biyik, Ashu Bessong as assistant coach number 2, Alioum Boukar as goalkeeping coach, Dany Nounkeu as team manager, Christophe Manouvrier as physical trainer, and Germain Noël Essengue as part of the press team.
Cameroon takes on Cape Verde on June 3 and Angola on June 10 for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. It remains to see if Brys’s tactics can seal a ticket for the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.
Meantime, FECAFOOT says it “intends to shed light on this regrettable situation” and “communicate without delay” on “the reaction it intends to have”.