Cameroon head coach Marc Brys has made his stance very clear on the possibility of calling up striker Hugo Ekitiké to the Indomitable Lions squad. Speaking firmly on the issue, Brys explained why he has not reached out to the former Paris Saint-Germain forward, who is currently with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.
“I have not contacted him, and I will tell you why,” Brys said when asked about Ekitiké. “He has been trying to play for France. He has not succeeded, and now we Cameroonians are the second choice.”
Ekitiké, born in France to a Cameroonian mother, represented France at youth level and was once seen as a future star for Les Bleus. However, with competition fierce in Didier Deschamps’ squad, the 22-year-old has not managed to secure a senior call-up for the French national team. That has left the door open for Cameroon, but Brys insists he is not interested in players who view the nation as a fallback option.
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“I don’t need such a second option,” the Belgian tactician continued. “We have so many good players who play with their hearts, and that’s what I want. I don’t need a star who thinks he can be in this country or that. He’s a good player, no doubt, but based on the situation I explained, he does not deserve to be here.”
Brys’ comments underline a growing debate in African football over players with dual nationality. While some countries actively court players who are undecided, Brys believes Cameroon should focus on talent that is fully committed to representing the green, red, and yellow.
Ekitiké, who made a permanent move from PSG to Eintracht Frankfurt this summer after a loan spell, has yet to comment on Brys’ remarks. For now, it appears his international future remains in limbo — caught between his childhood dream of playing for France and a national team coach in Cameroon who is unwilling to welcome him under current circumstances.