Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), apologised on Thursday to Belgian football manager Marc Brys, whom he had a heated altercation with earlier in the week.
Eto’o, who tendered his apology in a press conference, also announced that Brys, who had initially been removed from his role as head coach of the Indomitable Lions, has been reinstated just two days after their public row.
“I apologize because during our first unfortunate meeting, there was a lot of emotion,” Eto’o said at Thursday’s press conference.
“But the Cameroonian people are more important than us, and it is for them that we must work,” the former Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Chelsea forward added.
Apologies 😔 and peace ✌️ at last.
Fecafoot president Samuel Etoo calls for calm and apologises following the stormy exchange with Belgian coach Marc Brys.
Accepts his appointment & reiterates his support for the new #Cameroon coach ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. pic.twitter.com/yFVV5YeTQy
— Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) May 30, 2024
Brys had been appointed as coach of the national men’s team by Cameroon sports minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi in April, a decision that stunned the country’s football federation.
However, after an emergency general meeting was called on Tuesday, the 62-year-old was sacked, with FECAFOOT citing “disrespectful comments” and “an outright refusal to collaborate” as some of the reasons for relieving the Belgian of his duties.
Martin Mpile Ndtoungou was immediately appointed as interim coach of the team, and he was tasked with naming a squad for Cameroon’s upcoming matches in the African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nonetheless, in a total U-turn of events, it now seems Brys would be in charge of handpicking the squad, which is billed to face Cape Verde and Angola on June 8 and 11, respectively, with Eto’o showing full support for the Belgian.
“Your mission is not an easy one, despite your qualities and experience, but you should know that you will have our support,” the former Cameroon international added.
The Indomitable Lions are top of Group D with four points from two games, and they will host the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde on June 8, before traveling to Talatona to take on the Palancas Negras of Angola at the Estádio 11 de Novembro three days later.
