Why Marc Brys and Fecafoot Samuel Eto’o Argued
Who is Coach Marc Brys
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Full name: Marc Brys
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Date of birth: May 10, 1962
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Place of birth: Antwerp, Belgium
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Nationality: Belgian
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Current team: Cameroon (head coach)
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Preferred formation: 4-2-3-1
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Coaching License: UEFA Pro License
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Average term as coach: 1.31 years
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Honors: Belgian Cup (2005)
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Managerial career:
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Berchem Sport (2001-2003)
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Germinal Beerschot (2003-2007, 2006-2007)
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Royal Mouscron-Péruwelz (2007)
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FC Eindhoven (2008-2009)
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Den Bosch (2009-2010)
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KV Mechelen (2010-2012)
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Al-Faisaly FC (2012)
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Al-Raed (2014, 2014-2015)
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Beerschot Wilrijk (2016-2018)
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Sint-Truiden (2018-2019)
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OH Leuven (2020-2023)
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Cameroon (2024)
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Who is Samuel Eto’o
Samuel Eto’o is the current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation, a position he has held since December 11, 2021 ¹. He is a former Cameroonian star forward and has been involved in a heated exchange with national team coach Marc Brys ². Here are some other facts about Samuel Eto’o ¹:
In a stunning turn of events, Marc Brys has been dismissed as head coach of Cameroon before even overseeing a single match, following a heated dispute with Samuel Eto’o, the president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot).
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Heated argument: A heated argument happened between the two men during a meeting at the Fecafoot headquarters. The session started with a cordial “welcome home” from Eto’o to Brys, but quickly escalated. Eto’o clashed with Cyrille Tollo, the sports minister’s technical advisor, demanding Tollo’s expulsion for interfering with a private discussion. The tense atmosphere prompted Brys to leave the room, leading Eto’o to call for the Emergency Committee’s intervention.
Martin Ndtoungou steps in as interim boss of the Indomitable Lions following an emergency session of Fecafoot’s executive committee.
The decision to replace Brys stemmed from “disrespectful comments,” an “outright refusal to collaborate,” and “inappropriate behavior” by Brys and his assistants, as stated in Fecafoot’s official statement.
Tensions escalated during a meeting between Eto’o and the newly appointed Belgian coach, resulting in a tense altercation. Video footage circulating on social media captured the cordial welcome turning into a contentious exchange.
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Dispute over coaching position: The dispute started after the Sports Minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi appointed Marc Brys as the new coach in April, a decision that did not sit well with Samuel Eto’o. The Fecafoot president had initially refused to endorse Brys and the staff chosen by the ministry, ultimately accepting Brys but imposing his own technical, medical, and administrative staff.
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Apology: Eto’o apologized to coach Marc Brys and reiterated his support for the Belgian, who remains head coach of the Indomitable Lions. Despite these differences, Eto’o apologized at a press conference and promised to work with Brys. The coach will now focus on the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Cape Verde and Angola.
The clash marked the first encounter between Eto’o and Brys, with the latter’s appointment by the sports ministry in April without Fecafoot’s consultation setting the stage for conflict.
Martin Ndtoungou assumes the interim coaching role amidst the turmoil, expected to unveil the squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Cape Verde and Angola during a press conference on Thursday.
The power struggle between the sports ministry and Fecafoot adds uncertainty ahead of Cameroon’s crucial qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the Indomitable Lions currently leading Group D.
