MANCHESTER United goalkeeper Andre Onana, who is on loan at Trabzonspor, has been excluded from Cameroon’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad.
The final squad was announced last night just as the Cameroon football federation (FECAFOOT) sacked head coach Marc Brys.
The 2025 AFCON will be held in Morocco from December 21 to January 18.
Onana joined Trabzonspor in the summer transfer window after struggling at Old Trafford and committing several high-profile mistakes.
He is among a number of surprise Cameroon omissions, including veteran striker Vincent Abubakar.
Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo has been named in the squad.
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, who has made 66 appearances for the national team and has won two Serie A titles with Napoli, has also been left out.
The former Fulham and Villarreal midfielder missed Cameroon’s defeat by Senegal in November, a loss that ended their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
On his part, Aboubakarhas scored the second most goals (45) for Cameroon, behind Samuel Eto’o (56).
The 33-year-old striker regularly captains the side and wore the armband as recently as that loss to Senegal on November 13.
He joined Azerbaijani side Neftçi PFK in October.
Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting was another notable omission from the Indomitable Lions squad.
The 36-year-old former Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain striker has scored 20 goals in 76 appearances for his country, but was not picked for the crucial World Cup qualifying game in November.
The dismissal of Brys, 63, brings to an end his turbulent relationship with FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto’o.
Video footage emerged of Eto’o and Brys appearing to have a heated exchange in May 2024.
FECAFOOT then said in a statement that the decision to replace Brys had been taken following an emergency meeting on Tuesday, convened by Eto’o due to the “inappropriate behaviour” of Brys and his assistants, but the Belgian coach remained in his position.
Following Cameroon’s defeat by the Democratic Republic of Congo in the World Cup play-offs last month, Brys has been replaced by 56-year-old coach David Pagou, who was appointed head coach of Cameroonian side Coton Sport FC on September 22.
CAMEROON SQUAD
Goalkeepers:
Devis Epassy (Dinamo Bucharest), Simon Omossola (St Eloi Lupopo), Simon Ngapandouetnbu (Montpellier), Edouard Sombang (Colombe Du Dja)
Defenders:
Samuel Kotto (Gent), Gerzino Nyamsi (Lokomotiv Moscow), Jean-Charles Castelletto (Al-Duhail), Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders), Flavien Enzo Boyomo (Osasuna), Mahamadou Nagida (Rennes), Christopher Wooh (Spartak Moscow), Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City), Darlin Yongwa (FC Lorient)
Midfielders:
Martin Ndzie (Rapid Vienna), Carlos Baleba (Brighton & Hove Albion), Arthur Avom (FC Lorient), Eric-Junior Dina Ebimbe (Brest), Brice Ambina (Valerenga), Jean Junior Onana (Genoa), Olivier Kemen (Istanbul B.B)
Forwards:
Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United), Christian Bassogog (Al-Okhdood), George-Kevin N’koudou (Al-Diriyah), Danny Namaso (Auxerre), Frank Magri (Toulouse), Karl Etta Eyong (Levante), Christian Kofane (Bayer Leverkusen), Patrick Soko (Almeria)