Sports
AFCON 2025: Pagou Drops Onana, Aboubakar in Cameroon Squad Overhaul
Cameroon have announced a drastically reshaped team for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with newly appointed head coach David Pagou dropping two of the nation’s biggest stars goalkeeper André Onana and long-serving captain Vincent Aboubakar.
The squad list, released ahead of the tournament scheduled to kick off on December 21 in Morocco, has already sparked intense debate among fans, analysts, and former players.
Onana, now with Trabzonspor and formerly at Manchester United and Inter Milan, has been a key figure for the Indomitable Lions in recent years. His omission, therefore, stands out as one of the most surprising decisions from Cameroon’s technical bench.
The exclusion comes at a time when the goalkeeper has struggled for consistent national-team appearances following past disputes and form-related concerns.
Similarly, Vincent Aboubakar, one of Cameroon’s most influential attackers over the last decade, has been left out of the travelling squad. The former AFCON Golden Boot winner has been central to previous tournaments but will not feature in Morocco as Pagou pursues a different direction.
Despite the high-profile omissions, Cameroon’s attacking lineup gets a boost with the inclusion of Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo, who is expected to add pace, creativity, and versatility to the frontline.
The sweeping changes come shortly after the dismissal of former coach Marc Brys, whose tenure ended on a disappointing note, particularly after Cameroon failed to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
Pagou, a respected Cameroonian football coach and physical-education teacher, has been brought in to reorganise and rejuvenate the national team ahead of AFCON 2025. Early indicators show he intends to build a younger, more dynamic squad capable of competing at the highest level.
Analysts say the decision signals a broader rebuilding project aimed at restoring Cameroon’s pride as a five-time AFCON champion, following inconsistent performances in recent competitions.
As fans await the final tournament roster, the debate over Onana and Aboubakar’s exclusion continues to dominate football conversations across Cameroon and the continent.
