AFCON 2025: Cameroon names new coach David Pagou to lead the Indomitable Lions in Morocco

Cameroon have turned to David Pagou as the new head coach of the Indomitable Lions for AFCON 2025, handing him the job in the middle of a political storm just weeks before the tournament in Morocco.

Pagou steps up after Marc Brys was dismissed by FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto’o, ending a tense spell marked by clashes between the federation and the Ministry of Sports over who truly controls the national team.​

Pagou is no stranger to Cameroonian football fans. He previously led PWD Bamenda to a league title and a domestic cup, and has worked alongside new Technical Director Martin Ndtoungou Mpile with the Intermediate Lions at CHAN 2020. He was initially part of Brys’ wider staff but was barely used due to the ongoing feud between FECAFOOT and the ministry.​

His first major act comes with a shock: the AFCON squad list leaves out big names like André Onana, Vincent Aboubakar, Martin Hongla and Michael Ngadeu, while André-Frank Zambo Anguissa is absent through injury.

Their omission is widely seen as another front in the political battle, with some of the dropped players reported to be close to the sports minister.

Drawn into a tough group with Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon, Pagou must now weld a divided camp into a united team under huge pressure.