Premature retirement for Gaëlle Enganamouit, Exceptional indomitable lioness

Text by: Farid Achache Follow

It is a figure of Cameroonian women's football who bows out. The international Gaëlle Enganamouit announced June 9, the day of her 28th birthday, the end of her career. Alain Djeumfa, coach of the Indomitable Lionesses explains to RFI all the respect he has for this "exceptional" player.

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"  End thanks for all  " wrote Gaëlle Enganamouit laconically on her Facebook page. The indomitable Lioness' striker has been without a club since his last contract in 2019 with Malaga in Spain.

"  It's a surprise for me,  " reacts Alain Djeumfa for RFI. The coach of the Indomitable Lionesses adds: “  She is young and we still needed her. Twenty-eight is the golden age of football. I respect his decision. A few months ago, I felt it well in preparation for the meeting against Zambia during the playoffs for the Tokyo Olympics. She is the only one who can explain her decision.  "

A treble at the 2015 World Cup

Gaëlle Enganamouit has 43 selections to her credit. With the Lionesses, she won the African Games in 2011, three years after starting her career in Yaoundé. In 2010-2011, she was elected Best player in the Cameroonian Championship. She then went to Europe where she knew several clubs including the Spartak Subotica in Serbia, Rosengard in Sweden and Malaga in Spain.

Her greatest feat remains the 2015 World Cup where she reached the knockout stages. In Canada, the Lioness connects performances. In opening, it offers a hat-trick against Ecuador (6-0). At 22, she was elected African footballer of the year a few months later. “  You have the passion of champions and the female selection and you embody the renaissance of Cameroonian football. Thank you for perpetuating hope and dreams,  ”wrote his compatriot Samuel Eto'o. "  In Canada, she said : " It's time for us to write a page for Cameroonian football ",  " recalls Alain Djeumfa .

Very important in the locker room

But Gaëlle Enganamouit then struggled with her selection because of repeated injuries. During the last World Cup in France in 2019, his coach had come under criticism by integrating him into the group. She no longer had a club after her hasty departure from Malaga in February. The Cameroonian had not played any preparation match before the start of the World Cup.

Alain Djeumfa had not made it an indisputable holder on the ground. But he knew very well what she could bring to the group. “  She was very important in the locker room. As always, she pushed her comrades. She is an example for Cameroonian youth  , ”says the technician today. In France, Cameroon also reached the knockout stages beaten against England.

A goal after three seconds!

Gaëlle Enganamouit, a powerful striker, recognizable by her speed, will remain in particular as the fastest player in history to score a goal. In 2013, she played with the Spartak Subotica Serbs and scored after three seconds of play. From the central circle, the Cameroonian sent the ball into the opponent's window. Endowed with impressive physical qualities, Gaëlle Enganamouit was very comfortable with her two feet, and had an excellent head game from the top of her 1.80 m.

Very attached to Cameroon, Gaëlle Enganamouit created the foundation "L'enfant des rails" to help young orphans. She also launched the first female football school in the country: "The Rails Football Academy" so that young girls do not encounter the difficulties she experienced when she started out in football.

" Gaëlle has brought a lot to women's football ," said Alain Djeumfa. It could help the Cameroonian Federation, CAF or Fifa. She still has a lot to give to women's football. "

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