Cameroon boss David Pagou leaves door open for Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa return

Cameroon manager David Pagou has left the door open for Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa to reverse his decision to retire from international football, saying the midfielder should be given time to process the situation.

Pagou was speaking on Monday as he announced a 26-man squad for Cameroon’s first gathering of the 2026-27 season. Inevitably, the 57-year-old was asked about Zambo Anguissa, who has brought his international career to an unexpected end after winning 66 caps and scoring five goals for the Indomitable Lions.

The decision has surprised much of the Cameroon football community, including Pagou himself. The manager revealed that he had been in contact with the 30-year-old Napoli midfielder before learning of the retirement, but admitted that the announcement still caught him off guard.

Pagou used the opportunity to pay tribute to Zambo Anguissa, who was born in Yaounde, while also making clear that he was disappointed by the timing of the decision. The midfielder’s international departure comes as Pagou begins reshaping the national side and attempting to build a new leadership group around younger or newly established figures.

Despite his frustration, the Cameroon manager does not appear to have closed the possibility of a return. His comments suggested that Zambo Anguissa remains welcome should he reconsider, although Pagou also wants the player to focus on his club career for now.

The former Cameroon international has endured a difficult 2025-26 season, with injuries disrupting his campaign. Pagou therefore struck a cautious tone, effectively urging people to “laissons-lui le temps de digerer” to give him time to digest the decision before judging whether his international retirement is permanent.

Zambo Anguissa has been an important figure for Cameroon during his international career, but his decision leaves Pagou without one of the experienced players around whom the side could have been built. The manager’s latest squad announcement marks the beginning of preparations for a demanding series of fixtures.

Cameroon will begin their first two matches in qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with a game against Comoros on 24 September, followed by a meeting with Congo on 29 September.

The Indomitable Lions will then face Cote d’Ivoire in a friendly on 3 October, four days after the Congo match. Those fixtures will provide Pagou with an early opportunity to assess his new-look squad and establish the team’s direction without Zambo Anguissa unless the Napoli player ultimately decides to return to international duty.