Cameroon manager David Pagou has recalled Carlos Baleba for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers against Namibia, but Christian Kofane and Karl Etta Eyong have both been omitted.

The Indomitable Lions will face Namibia on 12 and 16 November in the third and fourth rounds of qualifying. Pagou has selected an expanded 28-man squad as he continues to reshape the team, with five players receiving their first international call-ups.

Kofane’s absence is enforced by injury. The Bayer Leverkusen forward has been out for several weeks after suffering a problem with his left thigh during the previous international break. His club confirmed that the injury was muscular and occurred while he was on duty with Cameroon.

Eyong’s omission is less straightforward. The Levante striker sustained a lesion to the rectus femoris muscle in his right thigh at the end of August, but has recently returned to competitive action. He scored in stoppage time against Athletic Bilbao early last week to complete his side’s 3-1 victory.

Pagou has not publicly provided a specific reason for leaving Eyong out. The most likely explanation is that the forward is being allowed to rebuild his match fitness gradually after almost seven weeks on the sidelines.

With two of Cameroon’s most prominent young forwards unavailable, the manager has selected Dorinel Yondjo, Nsongo Tonfack, Geovanni Vianney Agbor Ndjee and Ivan Cedric Bikoue Embolo. Bikoue Embolo also replaced Eyong during the previous camp.

Baleba’s return is the main boost for Pagou. The Manchester United midfielder missed the September gathering through injury but is back alongside Bryan Mbeumo, who is also listed as a midfielder by the manager.

They join Arthur Avom, Danny Namaso, Harouna Djibrin and David Nyengue in a midfield group that offers Pagou additional options.

The five first-time call-ups are Karl Wassom of Riga FC, Patrick Nkoa Amougou of Raal La Louviere, Geovanni Vianney of FC Copenhagen, and domestic-based players Yvan Nana of Indomables and Eyango Priso of Colombe du Sud.

There is also a notable return for Enzo Ebosse, who has not featured for Cameroon since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Udinese defender is back in the squad four years after his previous involvement with the national team.

Olivier Kamdem Wabo and Salomon Nkoa Amougou have also been included among Pagou’s defensive options.

The selection continues the same approach of introducing younger players while gradually bringing back some experience. Andre Onana, Vincent Aboubakar and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting remain outside the current project.

Cameroon will now be expected to match that rebuilding process with results against Namibia. Their previous camp produced a 3-1 win over Comoros, a 1-1 draw in Congo and an impressive 1-0 friendly victory in Cote d’Ivoire.