David Pagou has transformed Cameroon since becoming head coach in December 2025, with established players left out, unfamiliar youngsters promoted and squad lists repeatedly reshaped.
So far, the results have largely supported his approach. But the scale of the changes has raised questions about where the Indomitable Lions are heading.
Pagou was appointed in a highly political context, shortly after Samuel Eto’o was re-elected as president of FECAFOOT and only weeks before CAN 2025. He was initially dismissed by some as the president’s “puppet”.
However, he built an attractive side in Morocco, using an energetic 3-4-2-1 system. Cameroon discovered their much-discussed “hemle” before going out honourably to the hosts in the quarter-finals. It was an encouraging campaign, although debate over Pagou’s decisions continued.
Since then, squad turnover has become his defining feature. Seven players dropped out between the September and November lists, while nine new names were added.
Injuries account for some of those changes. Carlos Baleba has not played for Cameroon for more than a year after repeatedly being sidelined at inconvenient moments, while Christian Kofane was unavailable with a thigh injury.
The performances, though, remain positive. Since Pagou took charge, Cameroon’s only competitive defeat has been against Morocco in the CAN quarter-finals. The Lions have also impressed in qualifying and beat a rotated Cote d’Ivoire side 1-0 in a friendly in Abidjan.
Cameroon lead Group G with seven points from three matches and are moving closer to qualification. A draw against Congo showed there is still work to do, but the overall sporting momentum remains favourable.
A core group is beginning to emerge around Bryan Mbeumo, now the team’s leader, together with Arthur Avom, Mahamadou Nagida, Danny Namaso, Kofane when fit and Baleba, whose injuries have prevented his return to the national team. The rise of potential regulars such as Samuel Kotto and Junior Tchamadeu also suggests there is some logic behind Pagou’s revolution.
Other decisions have been harder to understand. Nouhou Tolo, captain and an undisputed starter at CAN 2025, has disappeared from the squad. Pagou has said he wants to assess a different profile in that position while acknowledging Tolo’s qualities.
Harold Moukoudi’s continued absence is also striking. He captains AEK Athens and plays in the Champions League, yet has not featured for Cameroon since 2024.
Pagou has also selected players with limited senior experience, including Angel Yondjo of Lille’s reserve side, who had only just made his Ligue 1 debut before starting against Namibia and providing an assist. Ivan Jordan Nana, captain of the under-20 team and still developing, has also been called up. Players from less prominent leagues in Algeria, Tunisia, Latvia and the Czech Republic have surprised some supporters.
The coach says he prioritises performance, mentality and a willingness to “give everything for the shirt” over reputation. Yet one Cameroon supporter summed up the uncertainty on X: “Only this coach knows what he wants to do with our team.”
Cameroon’s history suggests a collective can succeed without a squad full of stars. The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations winners in Gabon were united by their team spirit, while Vincent Aboubakar and Nicolas Nkoulou, who scored in the final, had spent much of the tournament on the bench.
Pagou’s strategy is therefore defensible. After the win over Namibia, he said he wanted to build cohesion so that, “whatever players we put in, the structure does not change”.
The challenge now is to prove that the overhaul can deliver lasting stability, rather than leaving the Lions starting from zero at every international break.