On Wednesday, the Cameroonian football federation criticized the "unilateral" decision of the nation's sports ministry to appoint Belgian Marc Brys as the national team's new coach.

Rigobert Song, a familiar face in Cameroon's football scene, unexpectedly sees his contract not extended following Cameroon's elimination in the round of 16 of this year's Africa Cup of Nations, making way for the arrival of Brys, 61.

"The Cameroonian football federation learned, at the same time as all Cameroonians, the appointment to positions of responsibility within the national men's senior football team," read a statement on Facebook.


Fecafoot, the federation that oversees Cameroon's national football teams, expressed its 'great surprise' at the decision, going as far as to claim that it blatantly violates a presidential decree.

When contacted by AFP, Fecafoot stated that it attempted to "shed light on this regrettable situation," but it provided no other information. 

FIFA forbids national governments from meddling in the management of the sport. 

Brys is the third Belgian to lead Cameroon. Hugo Broos was the last, guiding the nation to its fifth AFCON championship in 2017.