Pagou Praises Collective Effort as Cameroon End South Africa’s AFCON 2025 Dream
Cameroon head coach David Pagou placed the spotlight firmly on teamwork rather than individual brilliance after his side’s 2-1 victory over South Africa at the TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 in Morocco, a win that sealed the Indomitable Lions’ place in the quarter-finals.
Speaking after the game, Pagou downplayed that he has any star performer in his team but focuses on teamwork.
“Who is the star of our team? The star for us is the team,” Pagou said after the match. “That has been the focus since we took over, and everyone has understood the word. Football is a collective sport.”
Those words were reflected on the pitch as Cameroon delivered a disciplined, united performance to knock South Africa out of the tournament.
Goals from Junior Tchamadeu and Christian Kofane gave the Indomitable Lions control of the contest, with every department of the team playing its role.
Although Evidence Mokgopa pulled one back for Bafana Bafana late on, Cameroon’s collective resolve ensured they held on for victory.
Pagou’s comments underline a clear philosophy that has guided Cameroon throughout the competition—success built on unity, sacrifice, and shared responsibility rather than reliance on standout individuals.
With South Africa sent packing, Cameroon now turn their attention to a mouth-watering quarter-final showdown against hosts Morocco, carrying forward a team-first mindset that their coach believes is the true star of the Indomitable Lions’ AFCON 2025 campaign.