Cameroon have named a 28-man squad for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Namibia on 12 and 16 November, and Carlos Baleba is back after missing September through injury. Bryan Mbeumo is also in the group, while David Pagou continues to add new faces and keep the rebuild moving.
Pagou's squad balance
Pagou has given five players their first Cameroon call-up, which keeps the door open for younger options rather than freezing the group around the old guard. He is also without Christian Kofane and Etta Eyong, while Andre Onana, Vincent Aboubakar and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting remain outside the current project.
The main point is still Baleba's return. He has only three Premier League appearances and 177 minutes this year, plus two Champions League appearances, so this is a recall based on promise and squad balance rather than on a long run of club football. His 6.64 league average is solid enough, but it is not the profile of a player arriving with settled rhythm.
Mbeumo's club form
Mbeumo is listed as a midfielder and comes in with a stronger club case. He has eight Premier League appearances and four goals this year, and his 7.19 league rating suggests steady attacking value for Manchester United.
That helps explain why Cameroon are keeping him involved while they continue to refresh the squad. The shape of the selection is clear enough, with Pagou leaning into a younger group and bringing back Baleba for two November fixtures that will say more about the rebuild than the last squad sheet did.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
