Marc Brys balances compassion and calculation as Cameroon overcome Eswatini

Cameroon cruised to a 3-0 victory over Eswatini in Yaoundé on Thursday, keeping their 2026 World Cup qualification hopes firmly alive.

Goals from Bryan Mbeumo, Georges-Kévin Nkoudou and Arthur Avom sealed the result within the opening hour, leaving the Indomitable Lions in complete control from start to finish.

Yet the most striking moment came not on the pitch, but in the words of Eswatini coach Zdravko Logarusic after the match. His surprising expression of gratitude to Marc Brys set tongues wagging.

I want to thank the coach [Marc Brys] because he slowed down the pace a little in the second half.I know how to see these things. We only have one professional player. The others are a police officer, a teacher, a soldier… Logarusic remarked, a candid admission underscoring the vast gulf between the two sides.

His statement raised a simple but intriguing question: was Brys truly showing mercy, or was his management rooted in pragmatism?

The Belgian’s comments in the post-match press conference suggest the latter. I made some choices with the next match in mind because it’s crucial. […] Cape Verde also won 2-0, so it will be a six-point match, Brys explained, making it clear that conserving energy and safeguarding players ahead of the looming clash in Praia was the priority.

The notion that Brys eased off for the sake of Eswatini seems unlikely.

With his team already in control, the coach opted for rotation and controlled tempo, a move designed to avoid injuries and fatigue before facing Cape Verde.

🔴 Zdravko Logarusic, sélectionneur de l’Eswatini :

« Je tiens à remercier le coach [Marc Brys, ndlr] parce qu’il a ralenti un peu le rythme [en seconde période, ndlr]. Je sais voir ces choses là. Nous n’avons qu’un seul joueur professionnel. Le reste est policier, enseignant,… pic.twitter.com/z8lFqUFuFG

— AllezLesLions (@AllezLesLions) September 4, 2025

In a qualification campaign where fine margins determine success, such management is less about generosity and more about strategy.

For Eswatini, the defeat was expected, but Logarusic’s words highlighted the stark contrast in resources.

While Cameroon fielded a squad packed with European-based professionals, his team featured part-time players balancing football with everyday jobs.

Against that backdrop, even a softened second half offered some measure of relief.

Cameroon, however, cannot afford sentiment.

The Indomitable Lions remain one point behind Cape Verde, who maintained top spot in Group D with a 2-0 victory over Mauritius.

That sets up Tuesday’s encounter in Praia as a decisive showdown for control of the group and a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup.

For Brys, the Eswatini match was less a gesture of kindness and more a rehearsal of priorities.

The real test lies ahead, where calculation, not compassion, will dictate Cameroon’s fate.