Cameroon is the best football nation in Africa — Eric Dina Ebimbe

Stade Brest midfielder Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe has declared Cameroon as the best African football nation despite missing out on the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Indomitable Lions fell short to Cape Verde in the qualifiers and will not participated in the expanded tournament to be co-hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Speaking in an interview, the midfielder expressed immense pride in representing Cameroon and insisted the country’s football history places it above every other African nation.

“Cameroon? It’s the best nation in Africa; there’s no better,” Dina Ebimbe said. “Historically, Cameroon in Africa is the equivalent of France in Europe or Brazil and Argentina in South America.”

The 25-year-old highlighted Cameroon’s rich football legacy, which includes multiple Africa Cup of Nations titles and historic performances on the global stage, as reasons why representing the nation remains a huge privilege.

“Some players play for national teams that don’t even get the chance to play in a World Cup play-off. So it’s a privilege to be Cameroonian, and to have such great people around you,” he said as quoted by Foot Mercato.

Although Cameroon will not participate in this summer’s FIFA World Cup, Dina Ebimbe believes the disappointment could ultimately help the team grow stronger in the long term.

Rather than dwelling on the absence, the midfielder described the situation as “a blessing in disguise,” arguing that the additional time together could help build greater chemistry within the squad ahead of future tournaments.

The former Paris Saint-Germain player reflected on Cameroon’s run to the quarter-finals of the last Africa Cup of Nations, revealing that many members of the squad barely knew each other at the time.

“We reached the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations without really knowing each other. I didn’t know the lads, I’d never played with them, I’d never even seen them. Yet we managed to achieve something special.”

Dina Ebimbe is now convinced the team’s future will be even brighter once the players spend more time together and continue developing as a unit.

“When we meet again at the end of 2026, it’ll be even better, I guarantee it, and we’ve got some big names coming through in the next few years.”

His comments will likely resonate strongly with Cameroonian supporters, many of whom remain optimistic about the emergence of a new generation capable of restoring the Indomitable Lions to the summit of African football.

Despite the setback of missing the World Cup, Dina Ebimbe’s message was clear — Cameroon’s football identity, history and ambition remain intact, and he believes the next chapter for the national team could be even more exciting.