Cameroon: David Pagou ‘continues to make this team better’

12.11.26 FT AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations

Cameroon

2

:

Namibia

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David Pagou wants to take lessons from the victory without getting carried away by the result. Having beaten Namibia (2-0) in Douala on matchday three of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon put in an encouraging performance, particularly defensively. But, in the coach’s view, the Indomitable Lions still have room to improve.

“Not everything went perfectly”

The coach was pleased to see his team finish the match without conceding a goal. He believes this defensive solidity is a positive sign as the squad takes shape. David Pagou acknowledged, however, that some things did not go as planned:

There are always things that could have been better. There were positives. We can clearly see that we didn’t concede a goal. So I think we’re continuing to make this team better. We’ll conduct our own review internally. Not everything went perfectly.

He also thanked the supporters who came to Douala for their backing. The aim now is to strengthen the team’s cohesion so that it retains its structure and understanding, regardless of which players are on the pitch.

Angel Yondjo, a symbol of the trust placed in young players

David Pagou also spoke about the role of young players in his project. Asked about Angel Yondjo, who provided an assist against Namibia, he highlighted his versatility and the support he has received since the youth levels:

Yondjo is a versatile player. He can play on the right, through the middle or up front. He’s a player we wanted. We’ve been following his progress since the under-17s. Our future lies with our young players. He has tremendous qualities.

He also stressed that competition for places remained open within the squad, echoing a phrase from Tchamadeu: “No place is guaranteed”. So despite taking seven points from three matchdays, the coach is staying the course: developing his team, building genuine cohesion and maintaining healthy competition in every position. The result in Douala is an encouraging step, but the work continues.

Aliou Toundé |

Editorfr

Related teams and leagues

Cameroon

Namibia

AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations