Marc Brys’ Blind Faith in Aboubakar Risks Cameroon’s World Cup Future

Aboubakar Without Rhythm

Against Eswatini in Yaoundé, Aboubakar lasted 90 minutes without registering a shot on target. Days later in Praia, he was again given close to 80 minutes — with the same barren outcome. For many, the persistence reflects not loyalty but blindness from Brys, who is accused of weakening his team by refusing to refresh his attack.

Legacy Turning Sour

Few dispute Aboubakar’s service to the Lions. His goals and leadership are etched in Cameroonian football history. Yet, his declining output now overshadows his past. A telling episode in Marrakech saw Brys reprimand a teammate for not passing enough to Aboubakar, as if the entire team existed to serve one man.

The Weight of a Record

Observers suggest the issue is no longer sporting. Behind the scenes, vested interests allegedly push for Aboubakar to break Samuel Eto’o’s all-time national scoring record — even if it undermines the collective. This, critics argue, is sacrificing World Cup qualification for individual vanity.

A Needed Transition

If Aboubakar is to protect his legacy, many believe it should be through a dignified transition — perhaps as an advisor or mentor. Keeping him in the starting eleven, however, is stifling younger strikers and eroding team cohesion. The Lions, desperate for rejuvenation, cannot afford stagnation at this decisive stage.

Cameroon’s campaign is already teetering. To persist with Aboubakar out of sentiment or politics is to gamble with the nation’s World Cup hopes. Brys must make hard choices, or risk condemning the Lions to failure and tarnishing both his own reputation and Aboubakar’s legacy.