African football cries the loss of one of its great figures. Emmanuel Kundé, Iconic Defense of Cameroon and the protagonist of one of the most remembered deeds of the continent in the World Cup Cameroon Football Federation (Fecofoot). The news has caused a wave of reactions in social networks, where companions, fans and former players have paid tribute to their legacy.
Kundé was much more than a solid and forceful defender. He was the silent leader of a golden generation that marked a before and after in the history of African football. In 1990, he was part of the combined historical that broke barriers in Italy by becoming the first team of the continent to reach the quarterfinals of a World Cup. Cameroon then dazzled the world and Kundé, with his imposing presence in the rear, was a key piece of that unforgettable achievement.
However, its contribution is not limited to that planetary appointment. The former soccer player also participated in the World Cup in Spain 1982 and conquered two African cups of nations with the indomitable lions in 1984 and 1988, being considered one of the most determining defenders of his time. In total, he played 127 games with the national team, being for years one of the most internationalities of Cameroon.
At club level, he developed most of his career in Canon Yaundé, the emblematic team of the Cameroonian capital. After hanging his boots, Kundé did not move away from the sport that marked his life. He became a coach and occupied technical positions in different local teams, including Canon Yaundé, as well as functions within the coaching staff of the National Team.
Messages in networks
The president of the Federation, Samuel Eto'ohe also wanted to dedicate some felt words. “It was much more than a defender. It was the wall that protected his team and the brain that began the play. A full footballer, a symbol of our football,” he wrote on his social networks.
With Kundé's death, CAmerún loses one of his most venerated legends, a reference that opened the way for future generations. His name remains recorded in the collective memory like that of a pioneer who led African football to the top.
