Written off, ridiculed and riven by off-field drama, Cameroon have become the surprise story of AFCON; a scrappy, stubborn side propelled by one genuine star and a collective will to survive.
At the centre of the story is Bryan Mbeumo, the Manchester United forward whose individual brilliance has lit up a team that otherwise looks built from grit rather than glamour.
From administrative meltdown to tournament heartbeat
The build-up to this tournament read like a cautionary tale.
Years of mismanagement, public spats and last-minute upheavals have long haunted Cameroonian football, but the chaos that preceded this AFCON was extraordinary even by those low standards.
A high-profile feud between FA president Samuel Eto’o and the sports ministry culminated in the sacking of Belgian coach Marc Brys less than three weeks before kick-off.
Brys released his own squad list; his successor, David Pagou, announced a different one. For a bewildering week it seemed as if two Cameroons might march to Morocco.
Big names were absent; André Onana, Vincent Aboubakar and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting were all left out; and the nation’s recent history of botched preparations and public rows suggested the Lions would limp out early. Expectations were low, the setup looked fragile, and pundits had already pencilled Cameroon in as a tournament casualty.
A coach, a plan and a team reborn
Enter David Pagou, parachuted into the hot seat with barely time to breathe. His approach was simple and human: calm the dressing room, build trust and make the team believe in the collective.
Pagou’s paternal, low-key style diffused tension and allowed a hungry, younger group to play with freedom. “When the president gave me the task here, if we organise ourselves well, things will go ok,” he told reporters, and his words have proved prophetic.
Pagou has not tried to reinvent Cameroon into a possession-heavy, aesthetic side. Instead he has leaned into pragmatism: compact defending, aggressive tackling and quick, purposeful transitions.
The Lions have averaged only 43 percent possession, their passing accuracy has been among the tournament’s poorest, and they are not a team that dribbles past opponents. Yet those perceived weaknesses have become strengths when marshalled correctly.
Mbeumo the difference maker
If Cameroon have a single match-winner, it is Bryan Mbeumo. The winger’s pace, directness and ability to create moments of magic have given Pagou’s side a cutting edge they otherwise lack.
With Mbeumo carrying the creative burden, the rest of the team have been freed to execute a disciplined, combative game plan: let opponents have the ball in safe areas, then pounce with intensity and precision.
Results that silence the doubters
The results tell the tale. A nervy 1-0 win over Gabon, settled by an early Karl Etta Eyong strike, steadied the ship.
A resilient 1-1 draw with defending champions Ivory Coast showed they could hold their own. A reshuffled side beat Mozambique 2-1, and in the Last 16 they edged South Africa 2-1 in a match where luck and nerve played their part.
Now the Lions stand in the quarterfinals, ready to face hosts Morocco a side that has never lost to Cameroon at AFCON.
Style, substance and the collective argument
Cameroon are not beautiful to watch in the classical sense, but they are effective. They are one of the tournament’s most aggressive teams, high in tackles and bookings, and they have shown tactical flexibility — switching from a back three to a back four when the situation demanded. Pagou’s message has been consistent: the star is the team.
He has insisted that individual talent must be married to collective discipline if Cameroon are to go far.
“Football is a collective sport, and while one player can help us win a match, the collective can help us win the competition,” Pagou said, encapsulating the philosophy that has carried them this far.
What comes next
Against Morocco, Cameroon will again be underdogs. But that status suits them. Unburdened by expectation and galvanised by adversity, the Indomitable Lions have already rewritten the script. Whether they can turn this improbable run into a deep tournament push will depend on Mbeumo’s spark, Pagou’s steady hand and the team’s willingness to keep fighting as one.
In a competition where off-field chaos often predicts on-field collapse, Cameroon have offered a counter-narrative: that resilience, organisation and a single superstar can transform turmoil into momentum. The Lions have roared back to life — and the continent is watching to see how loud that roar can become.
