YAOUNDE, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) announced Thursday evening that Belgian Marc Brys has been reinstated as head coach of the national men's football team barely two days after he was sacked.
In a statement FECAFOOT said, the decision was taken after an "important working session" with Brys Thursday afternoon during which FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto'o apologized for a heated exchange between him and Brys.
On Tuesday, FECAFOOT appointed Martin Mpile Ndtoungou as interim head coach of the Indomitable Lions after Eto'o and Brys were seen on video exchanging harsh words before the start of a crisis meeting.
"I apologize because during our first unfortunate meeting, there was a lot of emotion. The Cameroonian people are more important than us, and it is for them that we have to work. Your assignment is not an easy one despite your qualities and experience, but you should know that you will have our support," Eto'o said during a press conference on Thursday shortly before the official announcement reinstating Brys as coach.
Cameroonian FA has been embroiled in a crisis since April after the country's Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi appointed Brys as head coach of the national men's football team.
FECAFOOT initially rejected the appointment complaining that it was not involved in the appointment procedure "in disregard of texts" but in early May, the association confirmed Brys as new head coach but dismissed some members of the technical staff appointed by the minister and appointed new ones to replace them.
Brys has now been tasked to qualify the Central African country for the World Cup. The Belgian will be tested next month when Cameroon plays two crucial World Cup qualifiers against Cape Verde and Angola. ■
