Cameroon coach David Pagou says Zambo Anguissa needs time after international retirement

Cameroon manager David Pagou has paid tribute to Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa while admitting he was caught off guard by the midfielder’s decision to retire from international football.

Pagou was speaking after naming his 26-man squad for Cameroon’s first gathering of the 2026-27 season. The 57-year-old was asked about Zambo Anguissa, who has ended his career with the national team after winning 66 caps and scoring five goals.

The announcement came as a surprise to much of the Cameroon football community, including Pagou. The manager revealed that he had been in contact with the 30-year-old Napoli player before the decision was made public.

Although Pagou expressed his disappointment, he also used the opportunity to recognise Zambo Anguissa’s contribution to the Indomitable Lions. The midfielder, who was born in Yaounde, has been an important figure for Cameroon and was expected to form part of the team’s next phase under Pagou.

The manager has already begun rebuilding the squad around a new group of leaders, but he has not closed the door on Zambo Anguissa returning to international football. Pagou’s position is that the midfielder should be allowed time to process his decision and focus on his club career.

Zambo Anguissa’s 2025-26 campaign was disrupted by injuries, another factor in the timing of his international retirement. Pagou appears hopeful that a period away from the national team could allow the player to recover fully and reconsider his decision in the future.

For now, Cameroon must prepare for a new qualifying campaign without one of its most experienced midfielders. The Indomitable Lions will begin their qualification schedule for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with a match against Comoros on 24 September.

They will then face Congo on 29 September before playing Cote d’Ivoire in a friendly on 3 October. Those fixtures will provide Pagou with an early opportunity to assess the new leaders around whom he is shaping the team.

Zambo Anguissa’s departure therefore comes at a significant moment for Cameroon. The midfielder’s experience, along with his long association with the national side, leaves a notable gap as Pagou works to establish a refreshed squad.

The coach’s comments suggest that the retirement is not necessarily being treated as the final word. While he is preparing Cameroon for its upcoming matches and moving forward with the rebuilding process, Pagou is also willing to give Zambo Anguissa the time and space to decide what comes next.