Injured in the hamstring with Manchester United, Carlos Baleba will miss Cameroon’s double-header against Namibia. Head coach David Pagou has recalled Ryan Fosso Ymefack, the Standard Liège midfielder.
The Indomitable Lions staff must do without Carlos Baleba, the Manchester United midfielder. Taken off in the 51st minute on Tuesday 3 November in the win over AS Roma (3-2) in the Champions League, he is suffering from a hamstring injury. His withdrawal from the double-header with Namibia is official, according to Camerounweb and Fecafoot.
To cover this absence, head coach David Pagou has recalled Ryan Fosso Ymefack, 24, who was initially left out of the 28-man squad. He thus brings back a Standard Liège midfielder he had not selected in the first place.
Carrick cautious on the timeframe
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick is not offering reassurance. “I don’t have any other news on Carlos at this stage, but it’s his hamstring. We’ll have to assess the situation, but, at first glance, it doesn’t look very good,” he said, according to Camerounweb. The length of time the 22-year-old will be unavailable is not yet specified.
The timing is delicate for Cameroon, who lose a midfield element before two close-together matches. The injury occurred in a Champions League match, as Manchester United faced AS Roma.
Fosso, an already familiar profile
Ryan Fosso Ymefack does not arrive on unfamiliar ground. Trained at Young Boys Bern, having passed through Vaduz and Fortuna Sittard, he has played for Standard Liège since summer 2026. The Liège club’s sporting director, Marc Wilmots, describes him as a “mobile defensive midfielder with a good engine”, according to Camerounweb.
His return to the Cameroon squad comes after his initial exclusion from the 28-man list. The recall therefore responds directly to Baleba’s withdrawal, with whom he shares the midfield position.
Two matches and a leader’s chair
Cameroon host Namibia on 12 November 2026 at the Japoma Stadium in Douala, before the return match scheduled for 16 November in Gaborone, Botswana. These matches count for the 3rd and 4th matchdays of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, according to Lebledparle.
The Indomitable Lions go into this double-header as leaders of their qualifying group, according to Camerounweb. The head coach will have to do without Baleba, whose return to competition remains to be confirmed.