Bryan Mbeumo speaks on leadership role at Cameroon

Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo has spoken about the ups and downs of his footballing career, as well as taking on the responsibility of becoming the captain for the Cameroonian national team.

Joining United last Summer, Mbeumo has scored 16 goals across 48 games for Manchester United, earning the accolade of being United’s top scorer in the 2025/26 season, as well as winning the October player of the month for the Premier League.

But things have not all been smooth sailing for United’s forward.

Following a lack of investment by the Glazers and INEOS-led hierarchy, Mbeumo has been led to play out of position in the striker role this season, with first-team striker Benjamin Sesko out injured for the foreseeable future.

When asked about taking the armband for the Indomitable Lions, Mbeumo commented that: "I think it's important for me. Even if I am not someone who like usually talks a lot, I would say, outside of the pitch, like when we have, let’s say, a team conversation or something. But I think it's good for me.

"Even to develop maybe something new on myself and, yeah, I think it's really good and really important.

"I'm one of the older ones, if not the oldest in the national team. Yeah, I try to bring my experience and everything I know for them because we have a really young group, which have a lot of talent, I think.

"And then I think it's important for the team and for the players that I can be an example for them and that is what I want to try to do."

The United forward added on that he appreciates the chance to be able to be a leader for his country, learning from the difficult period Manchester United are currently facing.

"I think it's obviously something I developed but I always had this mentality, even when I was younger," he said.

"I always want the best, first for myself, so I always try to do everything I can to win and then it's because I'm very demanding on myself. I think it can only help the team and be demanding of them as well and, yeah that's why, every time, I know I'm like very hard on myself.

"So it's like I understand sometimes maybe we can be frustrated and stuff but that's why I always to say maybe if someone makes a mistake, it's okay. Next one, it'll be fine.

"If someone misses to pass, then okay, next time, you're going to do a good one, or even a shot, like the next time, you're going to score, that's fine. You know, so I always try to bring like positivity on the pitch to my team-mates."

The Cameroonian added on his experiences of the ups and down of his footballing life, and how he learned from more experienced teammates during his younger days.

"Yeah, of course, it hasn't been like always very good," he explained.

"Also I had some people who helped me as well. That's why I try to do it, to help the others in the same way. I always had, obviously, like the elders when I was in my different teams who were helping me out sometimes, so, yeah, I think it's important."

Cameroon will face Namibia across two matches on November 11 and 15, as they look to qualify for the 2027 African Cup of Nations.

The African side currently sits on four points, and two wins against Namibia would automatically qualify them for the competition.