YAOUNDE, Cameroon — Between being eliminated from 2026 World Cup qualifying and opening the Africa Cup of Nations in three weeks’ time, Cameroon fired its 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

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