Cameroon face striking crisis as Christian Kofane confusion deepens before DR Congo playoff
Cameroon will enter their 2026 World Cup playoff semi-final against DR Congo on Thursday with mounting uncertainty in attack after losing multiple forward options and dealing with internal call-up confusion.
The biggest confirmed blow involves Danny Namaso. The Auxerre striker now misses the fixture after suffering a left ankle sprain in Sunday’s Ligue 1 defeat to Angers.
Fecafoot announced the withdrawal on Monday, shrinking coach Marc Brys’ attacking pool just days before the high-stakes showdown.
Cameroon expected another forward, Christian Kofane, to bolster the squad. His club, Bayer Leverkusen, publicly confirmed his selection earlier this week.
But hours later, his name vanished from the official list of players travelling to Morocco for the training camp.
The sudden reversal triggered widespread questions inside and outside the national team setup.
Kofane, 19, appeared close to a breakthrough international debut. He spoke recently with national federation president Samuel Eto’o.
He also signalled a readiness to make the switch official. Many observers viewed his arrival as imminent.
But multiple sources close to the national team now point to internal disagreements between Fecafoot and Marc Brys as the main barrier blocking the call-up.
The back-and-forth over his status mirrors the wider instability currently surrounding Cameroon’s national team.
Disputes over squad selection, communication breakdowns, and administrative friction have dominated headlines for months.
This latest episode adds another layer of turbulence, arriving at the worst possible moment.
Marc Brys now faces the challenge of preparing for a World Cup playoff with fewer attacking cards to play and less clarity than he would want.
The DR Congo fixture carries immense pressure. The winner moves one step closer to the 2026 World Cup. The margin for error is tiny. The stakes tower high.
Even with the setbacks, Cameroon still hold attacking experience within reach. Karl Etta Eyong brings youthful promise. Vincent Aboubakar carries leadership and finishing pedigree.
Frank Magri offers physicality and direct threat. Yet the coach clearly planned for a deeper forward pack than the one he now possesses.
The team will fight the complexity around them, but the disruption has already left visible marks. Cameroon will head into Thursday’s battle short in personnel and heavy in unanswered questions.
🔴 Danny Namaso est forfait pour les barrages continentaux. L’attaquant camerounais a contracté une entorse à la cheville, à l’issue de la rencontre d’Auxerre face à Angers, ce dimanche en Ligue 1. 🦁🇨🇲 pic.twitter.com/rBmUrUzie4
— AllezLesLions (@AllezLesLions) November 10, 2025
