Marc Brys appointment sparks controversy as agent claims Tom Saintfiet was original choice for Cameroon

Cameroonian football agent Ivo Chi has alleged that Belgian coach Marc Brys was not the initial candidate to lead the Indomitable Lions, insisting that Tom Saintfiet, now in charge of Mali, was the preferred option before political dynamics shifted the decision.

Speaking to Passion Foot & Invest, Chi revealed that he had pushed strongly for Saintfiet, whom he described as the “ideal coach” for Cameroon.

According to him, the Belgian tactician Marc Brys only emerged as a compromise after other possibilities were dismissed.

“I once told Marc Brys that with his style of management, he would fit Cameroon,” Chi explained. “But for me, the real choice was Tom Saintfiet.

I even presented his name to the ministry. I remain convinced he would have been the best candidate.”

Ministry concerns over Saintfiet’s ties to Eto’o

The agent further suggested that Saintfiet’s perceived closeness to Cameroon Football Federation president Samuel Eto’o ultimately derailed his chances.

He pointed to a moment during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations when Saintfiet was seen embracing Eto’o after Cameroon’s victory over Gambia.

“That image went everywhere,” Chi recounted. “From the ministry’s perspective, it probably looked like he was too close to Eto’o.

That’s why the deal collapsed. In truth, Tom was supposed to be Cameroon’s coach.”

This claim adds another twist to the already tense dynamic between Eto’o and the Ministry of Sports, who have repeatedly clashed over decision-making authority in Cameroonian football.

Brys appointed despite Eto’o’s objections

Chi also maintained that Eto’o had little faith in Brys’s credentials when his name was first suggested.

He claimed that the Fecafoot president expressed doubts about Brys’s quality, favouring José Peseiro, then head coach of Nigeria.

“I sent Brys’s profile, and Eto’o said straight away: ‘He’s not at our level,’” Chi revealed.

“Yet months later, the ministry appointed him regardless, much to Eto’o’s frustration.”

The Belgian coach’s appointment was announced earlier this year, but the process has been overshadowed by public disputes and off-field controversies.

Strained relations with his own agent

The relationship between Brys and Chi has also deteriorated sharply. In October 2024, the agent formally demanded payment of a commission he valued at over 73 million CFA francs (€111,000), further souring their partnership.

These financial disagreements, coupled with doubts about Brys’s suitability, have added pressure on a coach already under scrutiny after a disappointing start to his tenure.

Results bring little relief

On the pitch, Brys has struggled to silence critics. Cameroon’s recent 1-0 defeat to Cape Verde marked his first loss in charge and left the team with a difficult path to World Cup 2026 qualification.

The Indomitable Lions now look likely to face the uncertainty of the play-offs if they are to secure a place in the tournament.

Saintfiet, meanwhile, has also endured setbacks. Despite being held up by Chi as the “better choice,” the Belgian coach has failed to guide Mali to a World Cup berth, casting doubt on whether his appointment would have altered Cameroon’s fortunes.

A divided football landscape

These revelations highlight the fractured state of Cameroonian football governance, where ministerial influence and federation priorities frequently collide. Brys, caught in the middle of political wrangling, finds his position questioned both by his own agent and by powerful figures within the game.

As Cameroon navigates its World Cup qualification campaign, the lingering debate over whether Saintfiet, Brys, or another candidate should have been appointed underscores the instability surrounding one of Africa’s most iconic national teams.