Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo will represent Cameroon national teams for the rest of his career after FIFA approved a one-time change of association.
Born in Avallon in central France, Mbeumo was cap-tied to France before permanently pledging his international allegiance to his father’s country of birth.
The Cameroon Football Federation put in an appeal to FIFA for a change in allegiances and the Swiss-based organization approved the request just few months to the World Cup finals in Qatar.
“It was a tough decision,” said Bryan. “My dad is Cameroonian, and I remember when I was very young, I used to watch the African Cup of Nations [AFCON] with him. I said I wanted to play with them one day.
“When I grew up, I got called up to France and I was very happy. I feel very French but the Cameroon team was on me as well, I’ve been there twice now and I feel very good there. My family enjoy being there, too.
“To be between these two nations, it means a lot to me. It’s a very proud moment for my family. It’s my dream to play at the World Cup, that would be very good, but if I won a trophy like the AFCON, I would be very happy.”
Mbeumo, who has represented France at Under-20 and Under-21 level, started his career at French side Troyes before joining Brentford, then in the Championship, in August 2019.
He contributed 16 goals in 45 league games in his first season, before adding another eight goals in the 2020-21 campaign to help the Bees win promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.
He managed eight goals and seven assists in 38 matches for Brentford in 2021-22 as the Bees finished 13th in their maiden Premier League season.
