AFCON 2025 – Cameroon: Onana and Aboubakar Dropped, Claude Le Roy Reacts! | OneFootball

Cameroon: Claude Leroy approves the exclusion of Onana and Aboubakar

Claude Le Roy / @x.com/kabumba_justin/

In a bold and decisive move, David Pagou, the new head coach of the Indomitable Lions, has announced the exclusion of several key players from the Cameroon squad list for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, set to take place in Morocco.

This high-profile omission, which has sparked intense debate, concerns goalkeeper André Onana of Trabzonspor, defender Jackson Chatchoua, who plays for Wolverhampton, as well as the seasoned striker Vincent Aboubakar, who features for Neftci Baku in Azerbaijan.

Cameroon: Claude Leroy approves the exclusion of Onana and Aboubakar

Speaking on the show "Talents d’Afrique" on Canal+ Sport, French coach Claude Leroy, former manager of several African national teams, voiced his support for the decision made by Cameroon’s new boss.

Regarded as one of the continent’s most respected managers and nicknamed "the White Wizard," he stated: "For me, I understand why he didn’t pick Onana and Aboubakar. I think if I had been in charge of this Cameroon national team, I wouldn’t have selected either of them."

He went on to add: "I get it, because there are players who are reaching the end of their cycle and no longer contribute much, or others whose behavior can be a bit toxic and who don’t bring much to the table."