David Pagou pleased as Cameroon begin Africa Cup of Nations qualifying rebuild

David Pagou says Cameroon’s encouraging international break has strengthened his belief in the team’s rebuilding process after the Indomitable Lions recorded two wins and a draw.

Cameroon opened their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with victory over Comoros before drawing with Congo. They then completed the break with a 2-1 friendly win against Cote d’Ivoire at the Ebimpe stadium on Saturday.

The results mean Cameroon finished the three-match period unbeaten, with two victories and one draw. The performances have satisfied Pagou, who believes the squad is developing the right mentality.

The coach credited the message delivered to the players before the matches, saying it was important to underline that the team’s progress was part of an ongoing process.

“We told them that we are continuing the work,” Pagou said.

He also rejected the idea that Cameroon should already have settled on a fixed starting XI, explaining that the side remains under construction.

“We are consolidating this team,” he said. “At a news conference, a journalist asked whether we would finally see Cameroon’s first-choice XI. After nine matches, and a 10th today, I made him understand that we are no longer working with that idea of a fixed team. We are continuing to build the side.”

Pagou said the preparations for the match against Cote d’Ivoire had been carried out in favourable conditions. The team received a positive welcome, trained on a good pitch and focused on maintaining defensive discipline.

“We told the players: if we defend well, we will not concede,” he added. “It is true that Cote d’Ivoire had chances, but as I told them, when we are well organised defensively, there is always a foot, a hand, a head or a body to stop the ball from going in.”

The coach believes the players followed their instructions and produced the performance the technical staff had planned.

“I think they respected the instructions well and played the match we wanted them to play,” he said.

Pagou’s comments were reported by Allez Les Lions, an account dedicated to news about Cameroonian football.