RABAT, Morocco (AP) \u2014 In the end, even Samuel Eto\u2019o was happy.<\/p>\n
Disappointment quickly turned to pride for Cameroon after its Africa Cup of Nations exit to Morocco in the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n
Eto\u2019o, the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT), remonstrated angrily during Friday\u2019s match in Rabat, but afterward he spoke to the players in the locker room and commended them for the honor they restored to the team after its pre-tournament turmoil.<\/p>\n
That was partly Eto\u2019o\u2019s fault as his federation fired coach Marc Brys less than three weeks before the Africa Cup, citing grievances including the Belgian\u2019s alleged \u201cdisrespectful, biased and insubordinate acts\u201d toward Eto\u2019o and the federation, and \u201cvarious professional failings\u201d including the failure to qualify for the World Cup.<\/p>\n
Brys was appointed Cameroon coach by the country\u2019s sports ministry in April 2024, when FECAFOOT announced its \u201cgreat astonishment\u201d<\/a> at his hiring.<\/p>\n As he was hired by the ministry, Brys refused to accept his firing by the federation, and he reportedly named a Cameroon squad for the Africa Cup including captain Vincent Aboubakar and goalkeeper Andr\u00e9 Onana.<\/p>\n FECAFOOT appointed David Pagou as Brys\u2019 successor, and the experienced Cameroonian league coach named his squad, too, leaving out Aboubakar and Onana<\/a> among others who were on Brys\u2019 list.<\/p>\n When Cameroon started with a win against Gabon, it was clear Pagou was in charge.<\/p>\n Led by young players including 19-year-old forward Christian Kofane and 22-year-old midfielder Carlos Baleba, the Indomitable Lions impressed with their commitment and intensity in a draw against defending champion Ivory Coast, then a 2-1 win over Mozambique, followed by a 2-1 win over South Africa<\/a> in the last 16.<\/p>\n Morocco, playing in front of 65,000 of its supporters, was a challenge too big on Friday.<\/p>\n Cameroon\u2019s hopes also took a blow from an early exit by right back Junior Tchamadeu, who was carried off in tears with what looked a serious knee injury after Noussair Mazraoui rolled over it in a duel for the ball.<\/p>\n But Pagou also took heart from the team\u2019s progression given the short time he had to prepare.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to remind you that we started on Dec. 16. It\u2019s Jan 9, it hasn\u2019t even been a month,\u201d Pagou said. \u201cWe\u2019re happy with these boys because they gave the people a lot of excitement, and that was the goal. \u2026 Unfortunately, Morocco cut us short. So we\u2019ll return calmly and continue our progress.\u201d<\/p>\n Pagou responded to every question he faced in the press conference by thanking the journalist for attending or addressing them by their name.<\/p>\n Looking to the future, the coach was optimistic about what can be achieved. Cameroon is a five-time Africa Cup champion and the first priority will be qualifying for the next tournament in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, as well as the 2030 World Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve seen in such a short time the team we\u2019ve built, and I believe we\u2019ll retain the positive lessons and capitalize on what we\u2019ve shown,\u201d he said. \u201cI think we are on the right track.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n