Samuel Eto'o Accused of Blocking In-Form Striker From AFCON 2025 Squad to Protect His Goal Record

Legendary Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o has been accused of attempting to prevent Vincent Aboubakar from joining Cameroon’s Africa Cup of Nations squad, allegedly because the in-form forward is edging closer to breaking his long-standing national scoring record.

According to SunSport, the Cameroon FA president, 44, is reported to have played a major role in the shock exclusion of Vincent Aboubakar, a revered figure in Cameroonian football who now sits just 12 goals behind Eto’o’s all-time record.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Google News, Stay informed with Latest Sport News

Samuel Eto’o, widely considered one of the greatest African footballers in history, remains Cameroon’s top scorer with 56 goals in 118 appearances.

Vincent Aboubakar, however, has been closing in rapidly, recording 45 goals in 117 matches, and showing no signs of slowing down.

According to sources close to the national team setup, the proximity of Vincent Aboubakar to the record is believed to have unsettled Samuel Eto’o, who has been accused of wielding his influence to keep the striker out of the upcoming Afcon squad.

The allegations come amid a wave of crisis within Cameroonian football. Last week, Samuel Eto’o abruptly dismissed national team coach Marc Brys, citing reasons including “insubordination” and allegations of “inciting players” against the federation.

In his place, Eto’o appointed David Pagou as interim manager, just weeks before the Africa Cup of Nations. The late shake-up deepened confusion within the team, with several insiders describing the environment as chaotic and politically charged.

Alongside Vincent Aboubakar’s omission, the squad named by interim coach Pagou also excluded Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, who is currently on loan at Lyon.

Andre Onana’s absence, however, surprised fewer observers, as he is believed to have had a strained relationship with Samuel Eto’o dating back to previous tournaments.

Still, the decision to drop Vincent Aboubakar, Cameroon’s captain and most prolific active scorer, has sent shockwaves through the fanbase.

Despite being dismissed by Fecafoot, Marc Brys insists he remains the legitimate head coach, arguing that only the Sports Ministry, who originally hired him, has the authority to relieve him of his duties.

Marc Brys has doubled down by submitting his own Afcon squad to the Ministry, a list that includes both Andre Onana and Vincent Aboubakar.

This directly contradicts the squad issued by Fecafoot under Pagou, leaving Cameroon in the unprecedented position of being caught between two competing managerial authorities.The political deadlock has created uncertainty around which squad CAF will accept.

The internal conflict comes at a particularly damaging time for Cameroon football. The national team recently missed out on qualification for the 2026 World Cup, with Cape Verde overtaking them in the final group standings. Now, the same fractures threaten to derail their AFCON campaign.

With two coaching staffs, two squad lists, and competing centres of authority, the national team is struggling to establish stability ahead of the tournament. One senior source described the current situation as a crisis with no clear leadership.

The deadline for submitting the final AFCON squad is Thursday, December 11, giving Cameroon only days to resolve their leadership dispute.

Whether the stalemate can be resolved before the submission deadline remains unclear, but what is certain is that Cameroon’s AFCON preparations have descended into one of the most dramatic administrative battles in their recent football history.