By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Cameroon coach David Pagou has handed first senior call-ups to five players and brought back defender Enzo Ebosse for a pair of 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Namibia in November.
Pagou announced his squad on Monday October 26 for the third and fourth rounds of qualifying for the 2027 tournament, scheduled for Nov. 12 and 16. The 28-man squad has four goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 10 midfielders and four forwards.
The biggest talking point is the attack. Bayer Leverkusen forward Christian Kofane and Levante striker Karl Etta Eyong who are both left out. Pagou gave no public reason for Etta Eyong’s omission, though it may be meant to give him more time to recover fully.
In their absence, Pagou will lean on Dorinel Yondjo, Nsongo Tonfack, Geovanni Vianney Agbor Ndjee and Ivan Cedric Bikoue Embolo.
Among the newcomers, 19-year-old Ivan Jordan Nana recently captained Cameroon’s Under-20 side to the UNIFFAC title. Agbor Ndjee, a forward, plays for Copenhagen. The other three debutants were not identified in the reports reviewed for this article.
Ebosse’s recall ends a long absence. The Udinese defender has not played for Cameroon since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Manchester United midfielder Carlos Baleba also returns after recovering from an ankle injury that kept him out of the first two group games.
Domestic players got a look as well. Colombe Sportive goalkeeper Edouard Sombang and midfielder Jean Hugues Eyango Priso were both included. Bryan Mbeumo is also in the midfield group.
Former Cameroon defender Aaron Mbimbe said the selection fits Pagou’s plans. He described it as a mix of stability and renewal rather than wholesale change.
Group G: Cameroon lead, but the margin is thin
Cameroon’s group also contains Namibia, Comoros and Congo. In round one, Cameroon beat Comoros 3-1 and Namibia beat Congo 1-0. In round two, Comoros beat Namibia 1-0 and Congo held Cameroon to a 1-1 draw.
That leaves Cameroon first with four points. Comoros and Namibia follow with three each, and Congo have one. A win over Namibia would lift Cameroon to seven points. A stumble would leave the group tightly bunched.
The top two teams in the group qualify for the finals, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
What to watch
Pagou’s approach is to test new players in competitive games rather than friendlies. The matches against Namibia will show whether a young, reshaped attack can score without Kofane and Etta Eyong, and whether Ebosse’s return steadies the defence.
