New Cameroon coach Marc Brys signs contract

The signing ceremony for Cameroon's new coach Marc Brys (61) took place on Monday, however, the Belgian's appointment by the government is still a subject of controversy since the football federation was absent.

Cameroon’s sports ministry has awarded Brys a two-and-a-half-year contract, despite the absence of the federation (FECAFOOT) at the event in Yaounde.

Last week, FECAFOOT criticized the decision made by sports minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombito to appoint Brys, who lacks experience as a national team coach and has never worked in Africa before.

FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto’o excused himself from the unveiling event, citing the late arrival of the invitation letter and the ongoing funeral preparations for his father.

Eto’o strongly opposed Brys' appointment and is currently engaged in a growing conflict with the minister.

The government in Cameroon traditionally pays the salary of the national team coach, giving them significant influence over FECAFOOT's affairs, despite FIFA's disapproval of such state interference.

Any further escalation of the dispute could result in a potential ban from international competitions for Cameroon, a prominent force in African football.

FECAFOOT held an emergency meeting and requested Eto’o to propose an alternative coach for the national team.

The minister defended his appointment, stating that he had followed both national and international regulations.

In a letter to FECAFOOT, Kombi clarified that the ministry's appointment of coaching staff does not infringe upon FECAFOOT's autonomy or violate any supranational regulations.

FECAFOOT had previously suggested three candidates to the ministry, but their salary demands ranged from 1.5 million euros to 2.5 million euros per year.

Kombi stated that these sums were unprecedented in the history of the Indomitable Lions, with no coach ever receiving such high payments.