‘Everyone was fighting me, not welcoming me’ – Marc Brys opens up on tumultuous Cameroon start

Cameroon head coach Marc Brys has shared insights into his tumultuous start with the Indomitable Lions, although calm has since returned as the team prepares for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Under the Belgian’s leadership, Cameroon qualified for AFCON with an unbeaten record of four wins and two draws.

Currently, Brys is enjoying a family break in Crete, allowing him time to reflect on his first seven months in charge.

In an interview with The Athletic, Brys recalled how his initial interactions with Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot), were fraught with tension.

Their first meeting ended poorly and was recorded in a viral video.

“In three days, it went badly,” Brys recalled with a smile. “I felt like everyone was fighting against me and not welcoming me. But my father always told me when I was young, ‘Don’t back down, don’t run away, stand your ground.’ That’s what I did.

According to him, he was unaware of any tensions between Eto’o and the Minister of Sports, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this. I felt like I was caught in a conflict that had nothing to do with me. To be honest, I didn’t understand.

“I didn’t want things to escalate, but I wanted to make it clear that I wasn’t leaving. It was important that the players saw that too, and that’s something they appreciated.

“There were disruptions in our work, but do I fight or focus on my work? The choice is to work and not focus on the annoying things or get angry. I keep all my intensity in working with the players. I don’t let that kind of thing drain my energy.”