Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo faces the dual pressure of leading the line and captaining his country as Cameroon begins their campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco this month.
With veteran striker Vincent Aboubakar unexpectedly dropped from the squad, the goal-scoring burden now falls squarely on the 26-year-old. Mbeumo joined Manchester United from Brentford last July.
The Void Left by Aboubakar
Aboubakar was a pivotal figure for the Indomitable Lions. He was the top scorer at the 2022 AFCON with eight goals, leading Cameroon to a third-place finish on home soil. His performance was historic, falling just one goal short of the all-time tournament record set by Ndaye Mulamba in 1974.
However, new Cameroon coach David Pagou made the bold decision to omit both Aboubakar and goalkeeper Andre Onana from the Morocco-bound squad.
“We wanted to do things differently. They are good players, but we set our sights on others to create a different mindset,” Pagou explained.
A Struggle for Goals
Mbeumo steps into this role during a difficult period for the national team. The Indomitable Lions have struggled in front of goal recently, failing to score in two critical 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Needing a win against Angola two months ago to secure automatic qualification, Cameroon managed only a 0-0 draw. A month later, in a playoff opportunity, they fell 1-0 to the Democratic Republic of Congo, confirming their elimination.
For fans accustomed to the legendary exploits of Roger Milla, Patrick Mboma, and Samuel Eto’o, these consecutive blanks were hard to swallow. Although Mbeumo started both matches, he suffered from tight marking and a lack of service from midfield.
Low Morale and New Leadership
Mbeumo must now lift a squad suffering from low morale following their failure to reach the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Missing out was a bitter blow for Cameroon, a nation that holds the African record with eight World Cup appearances. They lost the group spot to Cape Verde, an archipelago nation with a population of just 525,000.
In Group F, Mbeumo will lead his team against Gabon, Mozambique, and title-holders Ivory Coast.
Player Profile
Born in France to a Cameroonian father, Mbeumo played youth football for France before switching allegiance to Cameroon. His international highlight remains his participation in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
At the club level, he spent six seasons at Brentford, helping them gain Premier League promotion and forming a lethal partnership with Yoane Wissa.
Since his summer move to Old Trafford, Mbeumo has scored six goals this season, including a brace in a 4-2 victory over Brighton. Now, his country looks to him to replicate that form on the continental stage.
