Emergency Meeting Called by Cameroon Football Federation Following Clash Between Samuel Eto'o and Coach Marc Brys

YAOUNDE, Cameroon — The Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) has called an emergency meeting following a heated exchange between Fecafoot president Samuel Eto'o and national team coach Marc Brys.

The meeting, expected to take place in the next few hours, was convened to address the recent conflict and determine the next steps for the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The dispute has drawn significant attention, with many in Cameroon closely monitoring the situation. The crisis in Cameroonian football has escalated since the national team’s disappointing performance in the recent Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) in Ivory Coast.

In April, Sports Minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi appointed Marc Brys as the new coach, a decision that was initially met with resistance from Samuel Eto'o. Eto'o, who had refused to endorse Brys and the staff chosen by the ministry, eventually accepted Brys but imposed his own technical, medical, and administrative staff.

The conflict came to a head on May 28 during a meeting at the Fecafoot headquarters. What started as a cordial "welcome home" from Eto'o to Brys quickly turned confrontational. Eto'o clashed with Cyrille Tollo, the sports minister's technical advisor, demanding Tollo's expulsion from the meeting for interfering with what Eto'o deemed a private discussion. "Call security and throw him out! This is the last time, understood?" Eto'o reportedly exclaimed.

Eto'o then pressured Brys to take sides, asserting his authority as president and criticizing Brys for perceived mistakes. The escalating tension led Brys to leave the room, prompting Eto'o to call for the Emergency Committee's intervention.

With the World Cup qualifiers on the horizon, the Federation's swift action is crucial. The football community in Cameroon is eagerly awaiting the committee’s decisions, which will shape the future of the national team and potentially resolve the ongoing leadership turmoil.