Headline News

24, June 2026

Messi, Mbappé and Haaland lead World Cup Golden Boot race ⁰

Goal-scoring records have been tumbling at the 2026 World Cup – and the world’s most prolific strikers have another milestone in sight.

Usually a subplot, the race for the World Cup Golden Boot is one of the main talking points at this year’s tournament as the top marksmen set a blistering pace.

The overall record has already been broken by Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, who now has 18 goals over six World Cups after adding five in two games in the United States.

But he is being chased hard by Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland – who have four goals apiece – with Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane also in the mix.

The long-standing single-tournament record of 13 goals set in 1958 by France’s Just Fontaine appears vulnerable.

German great Gerd Muller was the last man to hit double figures, at the 1970 tournament in Mexico, when he scored 10 goals.

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal. — Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring the opener against Algeria on his 200th appearance for Argentina. © Claudia Greco, Reuters

Since then, at all but three tournaments, the leading scorer has hit six goals or fewer.

Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday, has been the standout performer so far at the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

He struck a memorable hat-trick against Algeria before scoring twice in a 2-0 victory over Austria, accounting for all five of the defending champions’ goals so far.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said it was “hard to explain” the genius of the veteran forward after their opening match in Kansas City.

“We are amazed with him still, although we get to see him on a daily basis and he’s been the best for 20 years,” he said. “He still pulls it off every single match.”

Messi’s most likely challenger, based on the prospect of a deep run in the tournament, is Mbappé, who scored eight goals four years ago in Qatar to win the Golden Boot.

The 27-year-old, now France’s record goalscorer, is just two goals behind Messi’s career total.

Kylian Mbappé became France's all-time record scorer after his brace in their opening match against Senegal. — Kylian Mbappé became France’s all-time record scorer after his brace in their opening match against Senegal. © Dylan Martinez, Reuters

The Real Madrid star said, perhaps unconvincingly, that chasing Messi was not top of his mind after his team’s 3-0 stroll against Iraq in their second game.

“Leo always scores goals and always will,” he said. “So I am not looking at what he is doing, I’m just focusing on helping my team.”

‘They’re so inevitable’

Level with Mbappé on four goals is Manchester City forward Haaland, who has scored in his past 12 competitive appearances for Norway.

The giant forward, 25, played down his extraordinary talent after taking his international tally to a remarkable 59 goals in 52 games.

“It’s like many other things, I’m just really good at scoring goals and I’m quite lucky,” he said. “I don’t know what I’m doing. It’s just how it is.”

Germany’s Deniz Undav and Canada’s Jonathan David have three goals each and Kane and Ronaldo are among a clutch of players with two.

Portugal’s Ronaldo briefly stole the spotlight from long-time rival Messi on Tuesday when he became the first man to score in six different World Cup tournaments.

The 41-year-old roared, “I’m back, I’m back” after his two strikes in the 5-0 romp against Uzbekistan, which followed an insipid performance from him in their opening 1-1 draw against DR Congo.

Ronaldo, the leading scorer in men’s international history, with 145 goals, said: “I always arrive, even if it’s later, but I’m there.”

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their third goal against Uzbekistan. — Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their third goal against Uzbekistan. © Maria Lysaker, Imagn Images via Reuters

Kane, whose six goals won him the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, is stuck on two after missing a golden chance during England’s goalless draw against Ghana on Tuesday.

US striker Folarin Balogun, who has netted twice, has set his sights on matching the world’s elite but realises he has a tough act to follow.

“Seeing players like Messi, Mbappe, Haaland – they’re so inevitable. I think they’re scoring a goal a game, sometimes more,” he said.

“For me, it’s just about trying to get to that level – to be inevitable as well, to be consistent.”

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

24, June 2026

Manyu Chieftaincy Disease: Is Ossing the next victim? ⁰

Manyu Division may be known for many things but one thing that makes the Division stands out is the people’s penchant for titles and this exaggerated love for the titles is one reason why the villages which make up Manyu Division are permanently in dispute and are underdeveloped.

Besongabang, Nchang, Kembong and many others have all been torn apart by chieftaincy disputes which have been around in those villages for a long time, making it hard for residents of the villages or their Diasporic communities to come together to discuss development.

For many decades, it was thought that some Manyu villages were insulated from that internecine chaos, but one after the other, the villages are quietly joining the ranks of chaotic rural settlements, wrapping themselves up in chieftaincy disputes which have retarded the development of many villages in a constituency many hold could have been a shiny example to others in terms of development.

Ossing, with its rotational system, has been the envy of many Manyu villages for decades. Comprised of Kaeka and Kenyang communities, Ossing adopted a rotatory system, making it easy for the chieftaincy title to peaceful and seamlessly move from one linguistic group to another.

But from every indication, that myth is gradually shattering as Ossing prepares to walk away from peace and harmony.

In 2025, Ossing lost its respected traditional ruler. An academic and seasoned administrator, Professor Edward Ako. According to our sources in Ossing, Professor Ako actually took the village to safer shores and there was peace during his time.

A source in Ossing who spoke to Cameroon Concord News Group but sued for anonymity said that Ossing was bracing for impact as impostors and enemies of peace struggle to hand a throne to a man whose character, ability and vision leave much to be desired. The suspect, Thompson Ndip, a civil servant in Yaoundé, is prepared to destroy a peaceful village if things do not go his way.

A manipulator and spinner, Mr. Ndip is desperate for the title, but from every indication, his efforts are not delivering the results he wants. The people of Ossing are wise and no amount of food and drinks will sway them.

“We are really seeing the mess that has destroyed many villages in Manyu. We have been trying to avoid it but a small minority of hungry and desperate people want to change the course of things in our beloved village,” our source said.

“We have a process which has worked and it was the same process which brought Prof. Ako to power in Ossing. This process calls for an evaluation of the different candidates based on certain criteria. Following an evaluation of the candidates, the candidate who is the fourth on the evaluation list, Mr. Thompson Ndip, is the one protesting and trying to bribe everyone,” our source said, adding that “He is a civil servant in Yaoundé and has surrounded himself with financially desperate and hungry people who think that he has money. Why should anyone be accepted as the chief if he does not have the right character and was never the first on that list?,” he quipped.

“The second and third persons on that list have not protested. Some of the candidates have already congratulated the person who topped the list. Ossing needs someone who can unite people and convince those who have money to contribute towards the development of our village,” our angry source said.

“You cannot lose an evaluation exercise and then come and be parading yourself as a champion. One of his supporters told us in Ossing that it was likely that he will be appointed as a minister in Biya’s next government. Who has ever been appointed a minister just because he is managing a project funded by donors? We may be living in Ossing, but we are not stupid and blind. We know what is happening and we cannot fall for such mischief and dishonesty,” he said

“Manyu and Ossing have better people who can represent us in Biya’s government. This young civil servant has been corrupting some of the kingmakers and some are opposed to his approach to things. Some kingmakers who certified the results on the day the evaluation was made later changed their positions, claiming that they were hungry and did not see the documents they signed. This is really funny,” he said.

“Such people should never be kingmakers again in our village. It is obvious that they have been given food and they can now see properly. This is dishonesty,” he stressed.

“These same dishonest elements even went to the Senior Divisional Officer in Mamfe and lied that they had chosen their chief and some people were threatening them. They thought the SDO was stupid. He simply advised the Kaeka kingmakers to present their choice of chief to the kenyang kingmakers, after which the Kenyang kingmakers will approve or disapprove depending on the person’s character,” he pointed out.

“Once the Kenyang kingmakers approve their choice, they will submit their approval to the Ossing Traditional Council (OTC) which is the only body mandated to present a chief to the SDO and the administration. But because the hungry Kaeka kingmakers know that they are playing tricks, they have been avoiding to meet with the Kenyang kingmakers,” he stressed.

“On Saturday, the same hungry kingmakers invited the Kenyang kingmakers to a location not approved for the presentation of the chief. The Kenyang kingmakers turned down the invitation. To spice their invitation, they proudly told the kingmakers to come with their flasks for them to carry food and meat to their homes. This did not move the Kenyang kingmakers who are determined to ensure that the rules and procedures are followed. Not everyone can be bought,” he stressed.

“Since the Kenyang kingmakers did not honor the invitation of the food-and-drink kaeka kingmakers, the desperate kingmakers made a video claiming that they had presented their chief to their Kenyang colleagues. We, in Ossing, are aware of what they are selling, but none of us will be part of that game,” he stressed.

“The processes and procedures must be followed and if they are followed, the right person will be chosen. We need the right person. Someone with the right character. If we get it wrong, the development of our village will stall as many donors might not support our projects,” he pointed out.

“The disease that has affected many Manyu villages seems to be making its way to Ossing but we will do our best to stop it. We have the men and resources to manage our processes the right way to ensure that chaos does not stall our development process,” he concluded.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

23, June 2026

Owona Nguini’s attacks on Samuel Eto’o are becoming increasingly unconvincing ⁰

Professor Mathias Éric Owona Nguini is among the many French Cameroun political elites facing war crime charges in Southern Cameroons. The so-called professor has every right to criticize the leadership of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) and its president, Samuel Eto’o.

Frankly speaking, healthy debate is essential in football administration. However, Owona Nguini’s recent attacks increasingly appear driven more by personal and political motives than by a balanced assessment of the realities facing Cameroonian football.

In the aftermath of the Indomitable Lions’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Owona Nguini publicly blamed the Cameroon Football Federation and Eto’o for the disappointment. The Cameroon Football Federation responded by rejecting his accusations and defending its role during the qualification campaign.

What is very disturbing is that the so-called professor’s interventions rarely come with practical solutions. Cameroon football has suffered from administrative conflicts, CPDM government interference, poor infrastructure and institutional rivalries for decades. Reducing every problem to Samuel Eto’o is an oversimplification that ignores the broader challenges that existed long before Eto’o arrived at FECAFOOT and deliberately ignoring the destruction that was caused by Owona Nguini’s late dad Professor Joseph Owona and his gang during their time at the FIFA Normalization Committee.

Many football commentators and observers are beginning to wonder whether Owona Nguini’s constant criticism is linked to a desire to maintain the influence once exercised by his late father within Cameroonian football circles. Whether that perception is fair or not, the so-called professor’s repeated attacks risk looking like a campaign against a man rather than a constructive contribution to football governance in Cameroon.

Samuel Eto’o’s tenure has not been free of controversy. He has faced criticism and disciplinary issues during his time as FECAFOOT president, and those matters deserve scrutiny. But criticism should be accompanied by credible alternatives and concrete proposals.

For those who do not know like Owona Nguini, Cameroon football does not need endless personal battles. It needs ideas, reforms and unity. If Mister Owona Nguini wants to be taken seriously as a stakeholder in the future of the Cameroonian game, he should spend less time launching personal attacks and more time presenting solutions. So far, many of his interventions have generated headlines and controversy, but little in the way of a roadmap for improving Cameroonian football.

The future of the sport in Cameroon will not be built through nostalgia, Owona family legacies or media confrontations. It will be built through competence, accountability and results—standards that should apply equally to President Samuel Eto’o, CPDM Professor Owona Nguini and anyone else seeking influence in the Cameroonian game.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

23, June 2026

Football: Algeria beats Jordan 2-1 to clinch its first World Cup win since 2014 ⁰

Algeria scored off two corner kicks in the second half to rally from an early deficit and defeat Jordan 2-1 on Monday night to bolster its chances of advancing to the knockout round of the World Cup.

Second-half substitute Nadhir Benbouali headed in a corner kick in the 69th minute and Amine Gouiri provided the game-winner in the 82nd to give Algeria its first win at the World Cup since 2014.

The Jordanians had taken the lead for the first time at a World Cup on a first-half goal by Nizar Al Rashdan but couldn’t withstand the continual pressure from Algeria in the second half.

This marked the first time Algeria had ever won a World Cup game after conceding the first goal. They had seven losses and two draws previously when that happened.

Algeria bounced back after a 3-0 to Argentina in its opening game and can finish second in Group J – and clinch a spot in the knockout round – with a win on Saturday against Austria.

Jordan is out of contention for the knockout rounds with a second straight loss. It opened with a 3-1 defeat to Austria but put up a strong effort in its first appearance on soccer’s biggest stage.

Momentum clearly swung after Benbouali equalized when Riyad Mahrez’s corner kick found him in the middle of the box and he sent a header into the corner that Yazeed Abulaila couldn’t stop.

Algeria kept up the attack and took the lead when Gouiri got a touch on a ball in the box that deflected off Abulaila and into the net, setting off an Algerian celebration with their fans just behind the goal at Levi’s Stadium.

Source: AP

23, June 2026

Iran says no visit scheduled for UN nuclear inspectors ⁰

Iran has said there are no visits scheduled for inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to see nuclear sites earlier bombed by the United States.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said there was no protocol for such inspections, adding that Iran would continue its current obligations as a member of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and under its safeguards agreement ⁠with the IAEA.

His remarks appear to undercut those made by US Vice President JD Vance, who said negotiations in Switzerland won an agreement for the IAEA to visit the Iranian sites.

The IAEA has been in and out of Iran since Israel’s 12-day war against Iran in 2025, but has not been granted access to the bombed enrichment sites targeted by America in that war.

Source: France 24

23, June 2026

French Cameroun: 9 detained including traditional ruler in Penka-Michel lynching investigation ⁰

The investigation into the lynching of Steve Diffo and his alleged accomplice took a major turn on June 19 when West Region Governor Awa Fonka Augustine ordered the administrative detention of nine individuals, including Charly Constant Noussi Pokam, the traditional chief of the Baloum chiefdom in the Penka-Michel subdivision.

According to the official order, the chief and the eight other suspects are believed to have been involved as perpetrators, co-perpetrators or accomplices in the killings of Steve Diffo and Bostel Kamta, who was identified as his alleged associate.

The two men were accused of stealing roofing sheets before being lynched and burned alive on June 5 in the Baloum chiefdom, along with other alleged accomplices who remain at large, according to authorities. The suspects are now being questioned as part of an investigation led by the West Regional Gendarmerie. The administrative detention order is valid for 15 days and may be renewed if necessary. The suspects are being held at Bafoussam Central Prison while the judicial investigation continues.

A Major Development in a Highly Sensitive Case

The latest development is being closely watched because of the influence traditional chiefdoms continue to hold in Cameroon’s West Region. Beyond their customary functions, they retain considerable social, land-related and symbolic authority within local communities.

In the days following the killings, several observers and human rights advocates expressed concern that this influence could complicate efforts to establish responsibility. Reports alleging that pressure had been placed on the victim’s family to support a version of events more favorable to some of those involved further fueled those concerns.

Against that backdrop, the detention of the Baloum traditional chief is widely viewed as a strong signal that authorities intend to pursue the investigation regardless of local power structures.

A Case That Has Shocked the Nation

The case sparked widespread outrage after a video of Steve Diffo’s killing circulated on social media. The footage shows a young man with his hands tied behind his back and his feet bound, surrounded by a hostile crowd. Accused of theft, he repeatedly proclaimed his innocence and pleaded for his parents to be called. His appeals went unanswered.

According to information released by authorities, he was later placed inside a stack of used tires, doused with fuel and burned alive. A second man is reported to have died under similar circumstances. The video triggered national outrage and renewed debate over mob justice and the impunity that perpetrators of such acts sometimes enjoy in certain communities.

Questions Surround the Role of the Traditional Chief

Since the first details emerged, the Baloum traditional chief has been among the individuals most directly implicated in the case.

Some people who viewed the video claim they recognized his voice in footage shared online. Several witnesses allege that he can be heard speaking to Steve Diffo shortly before the killing. According to those accounts, he told the victim to say his final prayer. Those allegations are disputed by some members of his entourage and by certain local residents, who maintain that the chief was not present during the killing or that the events took place outside the royal compound.

The victim’s family rejects that version of events. Steve Diffo’s mother has stated that she was pressured by certain local notables to clear the traditional ruler of any responsibility. Even before the governor’s decision, the gendarmerie had already issued a warrant ordering the chief to appear before investigators. The document cited his alleged involvement in two homicides.

An Investigation Under Intense Scrutiny

With the administrative detention of the Baloum chief and eight other suspects, authorities have entered a new phase in a case that has become politically and socially explosive. Investigators must now determine the individual responsibility of each suspect, identify other participants who remain at large and establish the precise role played by those currently in custody.

Beyond the crime itself, the Penka-Michel case has become a test of the state’s ability to carry out a full investigation involving influential local figures in a region where traditional authorities continue to wield considerable power. That is why the latest developments are being closely watched far beyond the village of Baloum.

Source: Sbbc

22, June 2026

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces resignation ⁰

Britain’s Keir Starmer on Monday announced his resignation as prime minister and as leader of the governing Labour Party. Starmer says he will remain caretaker prime minister until a new Labour leader is chosen in the next few weeks.

The British pound and the London stock market firmed, and the UK’s benchmark 10-year bond dipped, after Britain’s embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his widely expected resignation, with the country appearing set for an orderly transition to a new leader.

Starmer’s departure could mean a change of finance minister and increased public spending, a prospect that has alarmed investors concerned about the country’s debt levels.

Rachel Reeves has been finance minister since Labour returned to power nearly two years ago, having overseen some controversial choices regarding state spending and taxes that contributed to Starmer’s demise

Andy Burnham, frontrunner to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader and PM calls for a “positive process of renewal for our party and our country.”

EU says ‘reassessing’ July summit plan with UK after Starmer resignation

The EU said it was “reassessing” with Britain plans for a summit on post-Brexit ties on July 22 after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s resignation.

European Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho said Brussels and London were looking into “the opportunity of still holding the summit … and we will take it from here”.

22, June 2026

Prime Minister Ngute revives push for Limbe Deep Seaport ⁰

Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute, has ordered government administrations to fast-track the long-delayed Limbe Deep Seaport project, signalling a renewed push to expand the country’s maritime infrastructure and reduce pressure on the Port of Douala.

The directive was issued during an enlarged inter-ministerial meeting in Yaounde that reviewed feasibility studies, land demarcation plans and governance arrangements for the future port. At the end of the meeting, Ngute instructed all stakeholders to accelerate preparations and move the project towards implementation.

Strategic project back on the agenda

Located in Fako Division in the South West Region, the Limbe Deep Seaport is expected to become a major gateway for hydrocarbons and agricultural exports while boosting regional trade. The project was revived by presidential decree in May 2020, but progress has remained limited since then.

Speaking after the meeting, Transport Minister Jean Ernest Ngalle Bibehe said discussions focused on assessing the feasibility of implementing existing studies and determining the next steps required for construction.

“After various presentations, we noted the strategic character of this project which has the same quality as the Ring Road. The Prime Minister instructed all relevant administrations to get involved so that this strategic structure sees the light of day,” he said.

Officials identified several priority actions, including the completion of the port’s territorial delimitation and the establishment of governance and operational structures needed to manage the facility.

According to the Transport Minister, the Prime Minister also instructed relevant administrations to examine all available options and submit a comprehensive report on the project’s implementation.

Administrative and municipal authorities from Fako Division participated in the meeting, presenting local concerns and proposals aimed at resolving outstanding issues.

Local authorities seek management appointments

The Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, Engelbert Viang Mekala, welcomed the renewed momentum behind the project but stressed the importance of appointing the port’s leadership.

“It is important for the top management of the Limbe Deep Seaport to be appointed because if the top management of the port is known, I think that all the actions will be taken,” he said.

Mekala added that discussions on land demarcation had advanced and expressed hope that the process would be completed before the end of June 2026.

The renewed focus on Limbe comes as the Port of Douala-Bonabéri continues to handle more than 95 percent of Cameroon’s maritime trade while serving several landlocked countries in Central Africa.

Government authorities have repeatedly identified port diversification and logistics modernisation as priorities for improving trade efficiency and supporting economic growth. The Limbe Deep Seaport is expected to play a central role in that strategy by providing additional capacity and strengthening Cameroon’s position as a regional trade hub.

Closing the meeting, Prime Minister Dion Ngute reiterated his instruction for all stakeholders to accelerate their assigned tasks and ensure the project advances from planning to effective implementation.

Source: Business in Cameroon

21, June 2026

Middle East War: top negotiator says Iran counts American threats for nothing ⁰

Iran’s top negotiator in talks with the United States has dismissed US President Donald Trump’s latest worthless threats, saying the armed forces are ready to respond “in another way” to any American aggression.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who is leading Iran’s delegation at the Switzerland talks, took to his X account to deliver a fierce rebuke of Trump’s recent rhetoric.

“Don’t they think that if their threats had any effect, they wouldn’t have reached today’s state of desperation?” he said.

He added that Iran counts American threats for nothing.

He cautioned American officials to watch what they are saying as Iranian armed forces are “ready to respond to them in another way.”

“Whatever they say, we are the ones who take action,” Qalibaf emphasized.

Qalibaf was responding to the US president who on Sunday threatened to restart war with Iran, warning Tehran to rein in its allies in Lebanon or face renewed and more powerful US military strikes.

“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform, referring to US war against the Islamic Republic, which started late February.

According to Fox News, Trump also warned that if Iran keeps the Strait of Hormuz closed, “you won’t have a country.”

“We may take over the Strait, if we have to,” Trump said.

A source told Press TV that the Iranian delegation to Swiss talks raised objections directly with the American side over Trump’s latest threat of further military strikes, and is now weighing its next steps.

“The Iranian delegation has raised its objections to the American side and is currently assessing the conditions to give a proper response to Trump’s verbal threats,” the source said on Sunday.

On Saturday, Iran’s central military command officially declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all maritime traffic, citing US and Israeli violations of the recently-signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Washington.

Iranian negotiating teams leaves Swiss talks in protest

Meanwhile, a source close to the negotiating team told Tasnim news agency that the Iranian negotiating delegation left the talks in Switzerland site in protest over Trump’s threats.

The source said that following Trump’s threat, the negotiations in Switzerland were halted, and their final outcome remains unclear.

Source: Presstv

21, June 2026

Indomitable Lions: Mbouh Mbouh Emile on marking Maradona ⁰

The former Cameroon captain faced off against Maradona, Dunga and Valderrama at the World Cup. Now he is helping develop players in the USA.

Emile Mbouh dribbles the ball against Brazil at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA.

Emile Mbouh may not be a household name, but his story is inextricably intertwined with the history of the FIFA World Cup™. Across two editions of the global showpiece, in 1990 and 1994, the Cameroon midfielder faced off against Diego Maradona, Carlos Valderrama, Romario’s Brazil and Paul Gascoigine’s England.

Mbouh fell in love with football when one of his older brothers took him to watch Cameroon play against Zaire (now Congo DR) in an AFCON qualifier. Until that moment, Mbouh had watched his siblings play in the streets and occasionally joined in, but never thought much of it. Watching Cameroon changed everything.

“I watched the game and felt like I was dreaming,” Mbouh told FIFA in an exclusive interview. “But it was just an occurrence. I didn’t yet dream of becoming a professional football player.”

Born in 1966 in Douala, Mbouh grew up listening to matches on the radio. Television did not reach Cameroon until about 1988. “We would just listen to the journalists commentating the game,” he said. “Visual were in the newspaper. That’s how we knew who was who.”

His brothers were fans of the big players from Brazil, but Mbouh found his idol closer to home. “My favourite was a player from Cameroon: Gregoire M’Bida. It’s because of him I said I wanted to play football. He was No8, so I wore No8 because of him.”

M’Bida was an attacking midfielder with style and grace who represented Cameroon at the 1982 FIFA World Cup Spain™, and was nicknamed Arantes as an ode to Pele. Though creative in his own right, Mbouh did not earn such plaudits for his creative play, instead he became a midfielder known for his ability to shuttle between the penalty areas, a role which allowed him to go up against some of football’s greatest creators.

“I was very technical. I was a box-to-box midfielder, because I was never tired,” Mbouh recalled. “I was just happy to be on the field.”

After playing with his brothers in a local pick-up match, Mbouh was asked to play in a summer tournament for a local side, aged just 15. His performance in the first game of the tournament caught the eye of a scout from professional club Union of Douala. He joined the club and his career accelerated such that five years later he was representing Cameroon at Italia ’90.

Bildnummer: 01649519 Datum: 08.06.1990 Copyright: imago/Colorsport
Diego Armando Maradona (Argentinien, Mitte) gegen Emile Mbouh (Kamerun, re.) - PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxUSAxONLY; Eröffnungsspiel, Argentinien - Kamerun 0:1, Vdia, quer, Zweikampf, Duell, Ball, dribbeln, Dribbling, Dreikampf, Weltmeisterschaft 1990, Nationalmannschaft, Nationalteam, Nationaltrikot, Länderspiel, Gruppe B Mailand Dynamik, Fußball WM Herren Mannschaft Gruppenbild Aktion Personen

Marking Maradona

Cameroon’s first game in Italy was against the reigning world champions Argentina, led by their talisman Diego Maradona. Nobody gave Cameroon a chance and yet they came away from Milan with a famous victory.

“We were in big admiration of Maradona because he was the best player in the world and everybody was talking about him,” Mbouh recalled. “When we qualified for the World Cup and we were drawn against Argentina, everybody said ‘Oh you’re in trouble’.”

Never one to shirk his responsibilities, Mbouh approached the match with his usual mindset: “I just played my game. I always told myself ‘just have fun and play’.”

Cameroon looked to suffocate Maradona, limiting his time on the ball, with Mbouh playing a key role. The 5ft 5in midfielder recalls his coach saying: “As you can go everywhere, you have to always check that he [Maradona] is not by himself.”

“I made it hard for him to play,” said the former Cameroon captain. “The first tackle, I went in on him very hard. Then I realised I was faster than him.” Mbouh used his speed to limit Maradona’s interventions and despite going down to nine men, Cameroon defeated Argentina 1-0.

In the Round of 16, he gave Valderrama similar treatment as a brace from the dancing phenom Roger Milla helped Cameroon advance to a historic quarter-final, where they bowed out to to England on penalties.

Watch the highlights from the match between Argentina and Cameroon played at Giuseppe Meazza, Milan on Tuesday, 08 June 1990.

Football in the USA

Four years later, Mbouh and co were in the USA for the first World Cup on American soil. The tournament did not go Cameroon’s way, as the Indomitable Lions drew once and lost twice, including to eventual winners Brazil, and returned home with just one point.

The disappointing result did not mar the experience for Mbouh, who now lives in the USA and coaches at his own football club. “We were shocked when we saw that a lot of people loved football here,” he recalled. “It showed at the first game and at our practices. We had a lot of Cameroonians and other different nationalities who came to see us play and support us.”

Since permanently relocating to the USA, Mbouh has found the game has improved even more, although he would like to see a greater emphasis on player development.

“People are very big fans of football, but there is a problem with development. The kids are there. The athleticism is there. But at many clubs you don’t see people taking time to develop the players. You see at younger ages coaches screaming at players to win. It should be about having fun and learning the fundamentals.”

Mbouh acknowledges that seeing players leave the game because of poor development is “heartbreaking.” He would like to see kids playing unstructured games, like he did as a child in Cameroon.

“Here in the USA it’s too structured. The kids don’t have the time to go out and play with their friends. Sometimes you need to feel that moment of being free, without any coaching around you. It brings a lot of creativity to your game. That is lacking a lot here.” Still, Mbouh is optimistic about the USA’s chances at their home World Cup. He insisted that playing in front of their own fans would be a source of inspiration. “I’m rooting for them,” he said.

Bildnummer: 00935314 Datum: 24.06.1994 Copyright: imago/Oliver Hardt
Carlos Dunga (hinten, Brasilien) gegen Emile Mbouh (Kamerun); Brasilien - Kamerun 3:0, quer, Zweikampf, Duell, Ball Weltmeisterschaft 1994, Länderspiel, Nationalmannschaft, Nationalteam, Nationaltrikot, Vdia Palo Alto Dynamik, Fußball WM Herren Mannschaft USA Gruppenbild Aktion Personen

African hopes at FIFA World Cup 2026

The former Indomitable Lion is happy to see hard work paying off for African sides at this World Cup. “Looking at the structures that people have put up around Africa, you can see the results. Morocco have a very good program and you can see the youth development.” He was pleased with Cabo Verde and Congo DR’s results and thinks that progress must be emulated by traditional football nations across the continent.

“Most of the countries now in Africa are improving and that’s very good. Countries like my country of Cameroon, and Nigeria, need to wake up and realise no one is going to give them anything for free. You have to fight for everything.”

For Mbouh, the common denominator so far at this World Cup is that the so called “minor countries” are “pushing around some of the big nations.”

Culled from FIFA