The shock omission of Vincent Aboubakar from Cameroon’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 squad has sparked heated debate, Soccernet.ng reports.
Allegations flying that Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT), may have influenced the decision.
Reports, notably from The Sun, claim that Eto’o feared Aboubakar could surpass his all-time goal-scoring record for the national team, currently standing at 56 goals in 118 appearances.
Aboubakar, who has 45 goals in 117 caps, is evidently close to the record.
Social media reactions and football circles across Cameroon, however, question the credibility of this narrative.
Vincent Aboubakar vs Eto’o: Do the Numbers Add Up?
While the idea of a record dispute makes for eye-catching headlines, the numbers doesn’t just add up.
No player in the history of AFCON has ever scored 11 goals in a single tournament, which makes the notion that Aboubakar could quickly overtake Eto’o during the upcoming competition highly improbable.
Although Aboubakar broke the record for the highest number of goals in a single AFCON tournament with eight strikes during the 2021 edition held in Cameroon, scoring 11 goals in just seven tough matches—assuming the team reaches the final—still seems unrealistic.
Meanwhile, his recent club form is a little evidence of a sudden scoring surge with just five goals in eight appearances for Neftchi PFK in the Azerbaijani Premyer Liqa this season.
At 34, Aboubakar remains a capable striker, but expecting him to maintain the kind of scoring rate needed to challenge Eto’o’s record in a short tournament window is unrealistic.
Taken together, these factors cast serious doubt on the narrative that Eto’o’s alleged interference was motivated solely by a desire to protect his goal-scoring legacy.
Vincent Aboubakar’s Omission: Other Factors at Play
There may be more to Aboubakar’s omission than the sensational record-protection story. Strategic or tactical considerations could have played a role, with the coaching staff or FECAFOOT potentially prioritising squad balance, youth integration, or overall fitness.
Internal administrative conflicts within Cameroon’s football federation cannot be overlooked either with recent disagreements between Eto’o, coaches, and officials have created a tense environment that may have influenced selection decisions.
League status can also play a role in his exclusion as Aboubakar plays in the Azerbaijan Premier League.
Taken together, it seems likely that the true reasons for his absence stem from tactical, administrative, and league-related considerations or any personal rivalry. But definitely not record-related motive.