YAOUNDE: Between being eliminated from 2026 World Cup qualifying and opening the Africa Cup of Nations in three weeks’ time, Cameroon fired their coach and hired a replacement.
New coach David Pagou immediately dropped captain Vincent Aboubakar and goalkeeper André Onana from his squad announced late Monday for the AFCON that opens on Dec. 21 in Morocco.
Pagou replaced Marc Brys, the veteran Belgian coach whose appointment last year seemed to be the sports ministry’s choice against the wishes of the soccer federation led by Cameroon great Samuel Eto’o.
The federation on Monday published a list of grievances with Brys including claims of subterfuge and insubordination.
The last game for Brys was losing in the African qualifying playoffs for the World Cup last month, 1-0 against Congo.
Pagou is an experienced coach in the Cameroon league and picked a 28-player squad for AFCON missing Onana, playing on loan from Manchester United at Trabzonspor in the Turkish league, and the 33-year-old Aboubakar.
His 45 national team goals are behind only the 56 by Eto’o, and include the late winning goal in the final against Egypt to seal the 2017 African title.
Cameroon’s squad includes Man United forward Bryan Mbeumo and are preparing to start their group on Dec. 24 against Gabon. Defending champion Ivory Coast and Mozambique are also in the group.
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Cameroon fires coach 3 weeks before Africa Cup and new hire omits Onana, Aboubakar
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Cameroon fires coach 3 weeks before Africa Cup and new hire omits Onana, Aboubakar
- New coach David Pagou immediately dropped captain Vincent Aboubakar and goalkeeper André Onana
- The last game for Brys was losing in the African qualifying playoffs for the World Cup last month
Andreeva, Bencic receive walkovers in Dubai
- Mirra Andreeva and Belinda Bencic were both beneficiaries of second-round walkovers at the WTA 1000 event in Dubai on Tuesday, as Jessica Pegula also reached the last 16
DUBAI: Mirra Andreeva and Belinda Bencic were both beneficiaries of second-round walkovers at the WTA 1000 event in Dubai on Tuesday, as Jessica Pegula also reached the last 16.
Russian teenager Andreeva, who received a first-round bye, will face either German Ella Seidel or Romanian Jaqueline Cristian for a quarter-final place after Daria Kasatkina pulled out with a hip injury.
In-form Czech youngster Sara Beljek, who won a title in Abu Dhabi earlier this month, also withdrew with an abdominal injury, handing Bencic a spot in round three.
American fourth seed Pegula cruised through with a 6-4, 6-0 thrashing of Varvara Grachev and will next play compatriot Iva Jovic.
The tournament in Dubai, one of the 10 WTA 1000 competitions, has been severely hit by the withdrawals of world number one Aryna Sabalenka and six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.
Second seed Amanda Anisimova had also been given a walkover on Monday after her second-round opponent Barbora Krejcikova pulled out.
Later Tuesday, American Coco Gauff starts her campaign against Russian Anna Kalinskaya.
Russian teenager Andreeva, who received a first-round bye, will face either German Ella Seidel or Romanian Jaqueline Cristian for a quarter-final place after Daria Kasatkina pulled out with a hip injury.
In-form Czech youngster Sara Beljek, who won a title in Abu Dhabi earlier this month, also withdrew with an abdominal injury, handing Bencic a spot in round three.
American fourth seed Pegula cruised through with a 6-4, 6-0 thrashing of Varvara Grachev and will next play compatriot Iva Jovic.
The tournament in Dubai, one of the 10 WTA 1000 competitions, has been severely hit by the withdrawals of world number one Aryna Sabalenka and six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.
Second seed Amanda Anisimova had also been given a walkover on Monday after her second-round opponent Barbora Krejcikova pulled out.
Later Tuesday, American Coco Gauff starts her campaign against Russian Anna Kalinskaya.
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