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                                Thomas Nkono: the assignment    

African soccer had its first real break-through on the world stage in 1982. Cameroon held Peru, eventual
winners Italy and
semifinalists Poland to draws
in the first round group. They only let in one goal, a lucky header by Italian
forward Graziani, but it was enough to send them home because Italy had 2-2 in
goals compared to Cameroon’s 1-1. Thomas N’Kono was the main reason to their impressive
defensive record. He showed goalkeeping at its finest and was nominated as one
of the best goalkeepers in the tournament. It’s quite an achievement for the
26-year-old who was virtually unknown to the soccer world outside Africa at the
time.

   
Twice named African Player of the Year in 1979 and 1982, he stayed on in Spain after the
1982 World Cup with Barcelona club,
Español. With this club, he stayed faithful for nearly a decade until he
retired. With his native club back in Cameroon, Canon
Yaounde, he won five league championships before he traveled to Europe. He won
the African Nations Cup in 1984, but missed out on qualifying for the Mexico
World Cup two

years later. Cameroon qualified
convincingly to the World Cup in Italy 1990, but
not many fancied them to emulate their great showing eight years

earlier. After
their sensational 1-0 win over defending champions 
Argentina in the
opening game, Cameroon continued
in style until they were knocked out by England in the
quarterfinals. N’Kono had another fine
tournament and could retire as a proud man. He was the first African goalkeeper
to earn a contract in a professional club in Europe, and the
first to keep a clean sheet in a World Cup match. Apart from the 4-0 defeat to Russia in 1990, a
match which meant nothing to Cameroon as they
alrea dy had made it to the second round, N’Kono only let
in four goals from opening play in seven games in his World Cup career. A
remarkable record knowing how fragile the African sides have been defensively
over the years.  

   
Surprisingly enough, N’Kono was
tempted out of  retirement to join  the Cameroon team in
the 1994 World Cup as third choice goalkeeper, but didn’t play a  minute in that
tournament. He ended his career there and is currently working as goalkeeper
coach for the Cameroon national 
team.