CAN 2022: Ngando Pickett, the star of Cameroon supporters

Ngando Pickett ensures the show in the stands during the matches of the Indomitable Lions during this CAN 2022. © Pierre RENÉ-WORMS/RFI

Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow

4 mins

For more than 40 years, Ngando “ 

In the sauce!

 Pickett supports the Indomitable Lions.

Colorful from head to toe, singer, dancer and entertainer, this atypical character is at the head of a troop of unleashed supporters.

Suffice to say that they are very noticed in this CAN 2022 in Cameroon.

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From our special correspondent in Yaoundé,

Cameroon ranked first in group A in the first round of

CAN 2022

and will face Comoros in the round of 16 on Monday, January 24 at the Olembé stadium.

A qualification obtained thanks to the goals of

Vincent Aboubakar

, to the good reactions of the team, and perhaps also thanks to Ngando Pickett and his gang.

He is sure of it: without their support, the Indomitable Lions “ 

are nothing

 ”.

In Cameroon, supporters of the national team number in the millions.

But Ngando Pickett is unique.

“ 

We have a simple passion: total love for our Indomitable Lions

 ,” he explains simply, pointing to his “

guys

” who accompany him.

Even abroad, we fear his presence in the stands, laughs the official mascot of the supporters since the CAN 1998 in Burkina Faso: “

When we know that Ngando is there, we block the doors.

They say that if Ngando passes, it's over, the Lions win.

 »

Dance, football and the Indomitable Lions

Henri Mouyébé – his civil name – was born 68 years ago in Douala.

In Cameroon, everyone knows him as Ngando Pickett.

It was his aunt who affectionately renamed him Ngando (“caiman” in the Douala language).

Pickett, it comes to him from dance, another passion, and from the American artist

Wilson Pickett

, famous in the 1960s and 1970s

A terrific dancer.

As I danced very well, my friends nicknamed me Wilson Pickett.

Then they started calling me Ngando Pickett

 , ”says the person concerned.

Wink: among his friends, there was the father of the current n°27 of the Indomitable Lions, James Léa Siliki.

Football already.

Football, always.

In 1972, during the first CAN played in Cameroon, Ngando Pickett saw his team fail in the semi-finals.

Today, it is impossible for Ngando and his band to imagine another nation lifting the trophy on February 6: " 

My mission is to provide my support, to be the 12th man behind the Indomitable Lions, to support until the final.

We are going to win this cup.

 »

In the Essos district, in Yaoundé, meeting with Ngando Pickett, the star of the supporters of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, who came from Douala and accompanied by his troop.

To follow this weekend on the air and on the site of @RFI @RFIsports #CAN2021 #TotalEnergiesAFCON @SamuelEtoo pic.twitter.com/mrnC2Na7un

— Nicolas Bamba (@nicobamba) January 20, 2022

Courage and Bangoua pepper sauce

For several decades, Ngando Pickett has followed the Cameroonian team on five continents.

The Indomitable Lions hold no secrets for him.

And he is categorical: " 

The 1980-1994 generation is the best

 " and Roger Milla " 

remains the supreme player

 ".

“ 

Everyone knows it, even if Samuel Eto'o came after.

He himself respects Roger Milla.

 »

Ngando Pickett is the show and the art of chambering. The song " 

In the sauce

 ", it comes from him during the

CAN 2017 in Gabon

. An expression that promises difficult times for Cameroon's opponents. " 

We're going to put them all in the sauce

 ," exclaims Ngando. He adds, hilarious: “ 

And this time, the sauce will be spicy! The Bangoua pepper will heat them up!

 »

His other favorite word is "

hemelé

", that is to say " 

courage

 ".

Something that all Cameroonians must have, says the self-proclaimed “ 

boss of the hemelé

 ”.

The hemelé is courage.

It's not being afraid of anyone.

The lion, you attack it.

The elephant, you attack it.

You kill everyone.

That's the hemel.

»

“ 

The lion bites you, scratches you and finishes you off

 ”

The hemelé (thus courage), Ngando Pickett needed it throughout his life as a Cameroonian fanatic.

It is that he swallowed it, kilometers on foot, to follow his team.

And that's not all.

“ 

I can't count the number of cells I've been put in, the number of countries I've been beaten up in.

I was even robbed

 ,” he recalls.

Today, he would like some consideration from Fécafoot and its

new president, Samuel Eto'o.

Monday, January 24, the 28 Cameroonians involved in this CAN will do battle with the novices of the Comoros.

This time, they will have no room for error, knockout stage requires.

Nothing to worry about Ngando Pickett however.

“ 

When you attack the lion, he bites you, he scratches you and he finishes you off

 ,” promises the 12th man, always fond of shock formulas.

It's the supporter in him that speaks, as always.

Let's go !

⚽️⚽️⚽️#TeamCameroon pic.twitter.com/2T4xmEqR8p

– RFI – Sports (@RFIsports) January 17, 2022

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