Thomas N'Kono

Thomas N'Kono ( born July 20, 1955 in Dizangué, Cameroon ) is a Cameroonian former football goalkeeper.

Life

N'Kono is considered one of the best goalkeepers who has ever produced, the African continent. Overall, he was in three World Cups (1982, 1990 and 1994) in the levy of the " Indomitable Lions " and came up with eight inserts.

In his first World Cup in Spain in 1982, is N'Kono, who was three years earlier named African Footballer of the Year, could excel in the games against Peru and Poland and his crew rescued each a goalless draw. Even against Italy the " Jaguar of Yaounde " convinced in the first half, but made with the only goal in the 60th minute not a happy figure. Although Cameroon has yet to compensate, but it lacked finally a hit to reach the next round.

Could not just because of its respectable performance at the World Cup, but probably also due to the success with his club Canon Yaounde, who between 1979 and 1982 a total of five titles, including the CAF Champions League and the African Cup Winners' Cup, winning, awarded to him again in 1982 the title of " African Footballer of the Year". This N'Kono was the first player to which this award was given for the second time.

International attention to the Africans was after the World Cup from the Spanish top club Espanyol obliged, where he was able to convince the fans just as quickly. Following Spain's goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora idol they clothed N'Kono with the honorary title of " El Zamora negro" (the black Zamora). Despite good performances he could breathe only in the season 1987/88 European Cup air. With fantastic parades he had a great share in the UEFA Cup finals, but in the Espanyol on penalties to Bayer 04 Leverkusen failed.

For the 1990 World Cup in Italy was actually Joseph -Antoine Bell provided as number 1 in the Cameroon goal, but the rebellious Bell put on with the association and was removed from the team. Therefore came as early as 1982 Thomas N'Kono to train. After sensational victories over Argentina ( 1-0) and Romania ( 2-1 ) could not prevent the victory of the African Group also has a clear defeat against the USSR ( 0:4 ). In the next round against Colombia Cameroon won 2-1 and thus stood in the quarter-finals against England. In this game, the then nearly 34 -year-old keeper acted but unhappy. With the score at 2-2, he collided in the extension with England's star striker Gary Lineker. Referee Edgardo Codesal decided on penalty and Lineker transformed itself decisive 3-2 for the English. N'Kono protested his innocence again and again - he thought he had not even touched Lineker.

After the World Cup, the Keeper was not considered in the national team - only for the World Cup 1994, he drove his team as the third goalkeeper in the United States. Even with his Spanish club, he was no longer the first choice and then moved into the second, later in the third Spanish league. The end of 1994 N'Kono changed again for three years for Bolivian giants Club Bolívar, with whom he won two league titles and then at the age of 42 years ended his active career.

After his playing career, Thomas N'Kono moved into coaching business and worked, among others, as a goalkeeper coach at Cameroon's national team and at Espanyol Barcelona.

Achievements

  • At club level: Cameroonian champion (1974, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982)
  • Winner of CAF Champions League (1978 and 1980)
  • Winner of the African Cup Winners' Cup (1979 )
  • UEFA Cup Finalist (1988 )
  • Bolivian champion (1996, 1997)
  • With the national team: Winners of the African Cup of Nations (1984 )
  • Quarter-finalists of the FIFA World Cup 1990
  • African Footballer of the Year ( 1979 and 1982 )

Trivia

  • The Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, whose youth was modeled N'Kono, named his son, born in December 2007 in honor of the Cameroonian Louis Thomas.
  • When choosing to Africa's goalkeeper of the century N'Kono took second place behind Joseph -Antoine Bell.
1987–88 UEFA Cup Joseph-Antoine Bell
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