'They Haven't Fired Me' – Marc Brys Breaks Silence as He Pursues Legal Action Against Samuel Eto'o

Cameroon secured their place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals at the expense of Hugo Broos's South Africa.

While the match was set to be a showdown between two Belgian coaches, Marc Brys was barred from travelling to the tournament with his team. The sidelined coach did not hold back in an interview with Sporza: "Someone wanted to show they were the strongest."

"Amateurish, illegal, and unlawful." These are the words Marc Brys repeatedly used to describe the situation that has unfolded within Cameroonian football.

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As the head coach of Cameroon, Marc Brys should have been on the sidelines at the Africa Cup of Nations. However, a persistent power struggle with federation president Samuel Eto'o led to an impasse just before the tournament began, with David Pagou taking charge of the team instead.

"No, I didn't watch the match against South Africa. I haven't watched the previous games either," Brys admitted. "When you're unjustly excluded, you no longer feel the urge to analyse those matches. That's a job for the staff who are there."

"I sincerely hope Cameroon wins, and I'm in occasional contact with the players," he continued. "They are happy with the results and think it's a shame that my staff and I aren't there. They are good guys and professionals, but the same can't be said for the sporting management."

"No, I'm not resentful, but you are the head coach from the first to the last day of your contract. You're not just a coach in between, simply because someone places himself above the law."

The 'someone' Marc Brys refers to is, of course, Samuel Eto'o, a football icon in his country and president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fécafoot). Brys was appointed by the Ministry of Sport in the spring of 2024, a decision Samuel Eto'o never accepted.

Just before the AFCON, Brys was informed he would not be travelling to Morocco for the team's preparations. He explained that the lack of official notice was particularly galling.

"I was not personally informed by Fécafoot, nor by the ministry. I blame them for that as well. There was never any communication," he stated.

"We requested our tickets for Morocco, and we never received a response, leaving us in the dark. Eventually, someone told us they weren't allowed to give us the tickets because he (Eto'o) had forbidden it."

"Things are going wrong not only at Fécafoot but also at the ministry. With proper organisation, this should not happen."

Marc Brys did not mince words. "The way this happened is illegal and defies all logic. You won't find this anywhere else in the football world."

"Again, their results are fantastic, and we shouldn't be negative about that, but the facts themselves are simply unlawful. You can't just turn everything upside down two days before a tournament."

"The federation should primarily work behind the scenes, and that has not been clear. The ministry has been sidelined," he added.

Although Brys is currently at home in Belgium, he insists he is still the head coach of Cameroon. "Yes, because they haven't fired me," he said.

"The federation is not allowed to do that, even though they have tried several times. The president of the country or the ministry can, as they are the ones who appointed us."

"We'll see how it evolves, but it's becoming more of a choice for my staff and me. Honestly, what they are doing is trivial. It's very amateurish. This is unacceptable at this level. You cannot tolerate it."

"I see little future here," Brys conceded. When asked if he still wants to return to his role, he replied, "That's another story. I have hired a lawyer. The contract is clear."

So, does Brys plan to resign? After a long pause, he said, "You can't let your emotions guide you too much. I am in talks with several clubs, and it's not up to me to throw everything into chaos."

"Anyone who follows this situation is convinced that these are bizarre circumstances that shouldn't happen in football. You also can't think you are stronger than 30 million people."

Brys reiterated his core message: "It's amateurish and unlawful. Someone pretends he is above the law. Gianni Infantino needs to act as FIFA president, but he has a bizarre relationship with Eto'o."