Marc Brys wins his first match as Cameroon manager

Marc Brys has survived his baptism of fire as Cameroon national team coach. The 62-year-old coach won his first match in charge of the Indomitable Lions on Saturday against Cape Verde 4-1, despite a disrupted preparation.

For his debut, Brys faced Cape Verde in Group D of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Thanks to goals from former Gent player Michael Ngadeu (1st), striker Vincent Aboubakar (25th and 44th) and Nouhou (54th), the Cameroonians won 4-1.

This victory allowed Brys’ team to earn valuable points towards World Cup qualification, two of which had already been played before the Belgian coach’s arrival. Cameroon were third in their group after a draw against Libya and a win against Mauritius, but the victory against Cape Verde puts them in first place. The Cameroonians have 7 points, the same as Libya, but are ahead on goal difference. The group winner qualifies directly for the World Cup, and the four best second-placed teams will play in a play-off.

Brys’ good start is anything but obvious. The Belgian coach took over from Rigobert Song as Cameroon manager in April, but then found himself in a conflict with the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) Samuel Eto’o over his appointment. Despite a heated discussion, Brys was allowed to remain in his position, but he was again heckled by Eto’o during the preparation for the matches against Cape Verde and Angola (11 June). The former Inter and Barcelona striker, among others, sabotaged Marc Brys’ training camp by making all the training equipment disappear.