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JUST IN: Former Cameroon Football Legend Emmanuel Kunde Dies In His Sleep At 68

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The former Cameroon international died at the age of 68 on Friday, May 16, leaving behind a towering legacy that spanned two golden decades of African football.

African football has been dealt another heartbreaking blow with the passing of Emmanuel Kunde, one of the continent’s most iconic and revered defenders.

The former Cameroon international died at the age of 68 on Friday, May 16, leaving behind a towering legacy that spanned two golden decades of African football.

According to Yen, Kunde went to bed on the evening of Thursday, May 15, and tragically never woke up. His remains have been deposited at the Yaoundé Central Hospital mortuary, with further announcements expected from his family.

Tributes have since poured in from across the footballing world. Cameroon Football Federation President and global football icon, Samuel Eto’o, expressed his sorrow on Instagram, using tearful emojis to mourn the loss.

Eto’o posted, “I’m just learning of the demise of the Elder Emmanuel Jérôme Kundé, an iconic figure in Cameroonian football, who died at the age of 68. Oh the sadness! It is a certain value of our heritage that is thus cruelly taken away from us.

“I keep with him the memory of a discreet and affectionate man, a figure of moderation and consideration.

He was a fantastic footballer, the control tower in the midfield, the defensive wall the opponent crashed into but also a great playmaker when the team had possession.

Individually, it was a fine passer and a gun with phenomenal power and goldsmith precision.

“In fifteen years as a national team (127 selections), he took part in the two legendary epics of the Indomitable Lions in the World Cup (1982 and 1990), twice winner of the CAN (1984 and 1988).

His long career brought him to France (Laval, Reims) and Gabon (US Bitam) as a coach, even though it is in the Canon sportif de Yaoundé that his name and legend will remain associated forever, as a player and as a coach.

“Praying for the great football family to keep him in your thoughts and my deepest condolences to his nuclear family.”

Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana also reacted with shock, posting: “This is sad to hear.

What happened?” He described Kunde as a player whose intelligence and physical prowess on the pitch made him a nightmare for even the most lethal strikers.

Kunde’s name commands respect across generations — not only for his impressive list of achievements, but also for the commanding presence he brought to the game.

Renowned for his strength, tactical intelligence, and versatility, he excelled primarily as a central defender but was also effective in a defensive midfield role.

Kunde remains Cameroon’s fifth-most capped player and is also among the nation’s top 10 all-time goal scorers — a rare feat for a defender.

His knack for finding the back of the net, particularly from set-pieces, became one of the Indomitable Lions’ most potent weapons.

He was instrumental in Cameroon’s triumphs at the Africa Cup of Nations in 1984 and 1988 and played key roles in the country’s appearances at the 1982 and 1990 FIFA World Cups.

The 1990 tournament saw Cameroon reach the quarter-finals — the first African team to do so — cementing Kunde’s status as a legend of the global game.

Kunde began his professional journey with Mbankomo FC before playing for clubs such as Canon Yaoundé, Tempête de Nanga-Eboko FC, Provenance, and Olympic Mvolyé.

Following his retirement from active football, he transitioned into coaching, taking charge of teams like PWD Bamenda, Canon Yaoundé, and US Bitam during two managerial spells.

Emmanuel Kunde’s death marks the end of an era, but his impact on African football will continue to inspire generations to come.

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JUST IN: Haaland ranked 26th, van Dijk 28th in Ballon d’Or 2025 list

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The build-up to the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony is officially underway as the organisers began unveiling the rankings on their official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday afternoon.

Kicking off the list at 30th place is Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, followed by Florian Wirtz of Bayer Leverkusen at 29th, and Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk in 28th. Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice sits at 27th, while Manchester City’s Erling Haaland narrowly misses the top 25, landing in 26th place.

The partial list, also shared by football journalist Fabrizio Romano, has already ignited fan debates online, especially surrounding Olise’s placement. The French winger delivered an outstanding 2024–25 season for Bayern, registering 12 goals and 15 assists, making his relatively low ranking a point of contention.

The full top 30 list is expected to be released in stages throughout the day.

The Ballon d’Or 2025 ceremony is set to take place later today in Paris, where the world’s top footballer will be officially crowned.

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Super Falcons Onome Ebi retires from football

Though I hang up my boots, my purpose in the game continues, to give back, to guide, and to be a voice for players.

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Legendary Super Falcons defender, Onome Ebi, on Wednesday officially announced her retirement from professional football.

Her career spanned over two decades with Nigeria’s women’s national team.

Ebi announced her decision in a post on her X account: “Today, I officially retire from professional football. The journey has been filled with challenges, victories, and lessons that shaped me into who I am today.

“Though I hang up my boots, my purpose in the game continues, to give back, to guide, and to be a voice for players.”

Widely regarded as one of Africa’s greatest female footballers, the 42-year-old centre-back boasts an illustrious record at both continental and global levels.

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U20 World Cup: Flying Eagles Final Squad Unveiled Amid Notable Absentees

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Preparations for Nigeria’s Flying Eagles ahead of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup have been affected by the withdrawal of several key players.

Top European clubs, including France’s Stade Reims and Germany’s Hoffenheim, have refused to release their Nigerian players for the tournament in Chile, which is not scheduled on FIFA’s official calendar — giving clubs the right to withhold players from international duty.

As a result, Hoffenheim duo Emmanuel Chukwu and Precious Benjamin, along with Stade Reims striker Ibrahim Hafiz, will miss the tournament. All three were considered key prospects for the national team.

In response, head coach Aliyu Zubairu has named a revised 21-man squad that excludes several overseas-based players. Domestic talents like Enyimba winger Clinton Jephta, Bidemi Amole, and Divine Oliseh — who featured in the U-20 WAFU B qualifiers in Togo — were also left out of the final list.

Team captain Daniel Bameyi leads the squad, which includes more than 10 players who participated in recent training camps and friendlies. New additions include Israel Ayuma, Ebenezer Harcourt, Charles Agada, Auwal Ibrahim, Kparobo Arierhi, Tahir Maigana, and Odinaka Okoro.

Meanwhile, dependable fullback Adamu Maigari has been ruled out due to a knee injury.

The team departed Abuja for Chile on Sunday night. Norway-based midfielder Daniel Daga is expected to join the squad later, ahead of their opening match.

Nigeria, runners-up in 1989 and 2005, will be aiming to win their first-ever FIFA U-20 World Cup title. The tournament kicks off on September 27 and runs through October 20. The Flying Eagles were eliminated in the quarter-finals by South Korea at the last edition in Argentina.

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