Samuel Eto'o fights with Cameroon's new coach in first meeting

A fresh episode of drama ensued in Cameroonian football as a meeting between FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto’o and new coach Marc Brys led to a verbal scuffle. 

Brys, 62, is a Belgian tactician who previously coached OH Leuven in the Jupiter Pro League. The Cameroonian sports ministry appointed him in April without the approval of the Eto’o-led federation. 

Following the exit of Indomitable Lions legend Rigobert Song in February, the Cameroonian sports ministry appointed Belgian Journeyman Brys without consulting the Football Federation. 

The coach met with the president of the federation for the first time today, as Eto'o invited him for a “working session” ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and the atmosphere was charged with animosity, leading to an angry showdown. 

According to the BBC's Oluwashina Okeleji, Eto'o denied entry to members of Brys’s support staff and also kicked out an attending member of the ministry. Eto’o and Brys argued briefly before the Belgian took his leave. 

Eto’o: “Don’t touch me!”

Brys: “Why are you talking to me like that?”

Eto’o: “I am the President. If you want to work with us. You’re a coach because I appointed you. You’re not a coach because someone else appointed you. You’ve made many mistakes.”

Meanwhile, Eto’o remains embroiled in controversies, and as Pulse Sports reported earlier, the FECAFOOT president was reported to FIFA over misconduct allegations, including match-fixing, spreading false information, making threats, inciting violence, and abusing power.