Quem é Thomas N'Kono?

É um ex-goleiro de Camarões nascido em 1955, ídolo do Espanyol e um dos maiores goleiros da história da África.

Que prêmios N'Kono conquistou?

Foi eleito Futebolista Africano do Ano em 1979 e em 1982.

Por que N'Kono é lembrado por Buffon?

Porque a atuação de N'Kono na Copa do Mundo de 1990 inspirou o jovem Gianluigi Buffon a se tornar goleiro.

Resposta rápida

Thomas N'Kono é um goleiro camaronês, eleito Futebolista Africano do Ano em 1979 e 1982, ídolo do Espanyol e participante das Copas de 1982 e 1990.

Thomas N'Kono

Thomas N'Kono was born on July 20, 1955, in Dizangué, Cameroon, and is considered one of the greatest goalkeepers in African history. He played for Canon Yaoundé before transferring to Espanyol in Spain. He was elected African Footballer of the Year in 1979 and 1982, a rare distinction for a goalkeeper. With Cameroon's national team, he participated in the 1982 World Cup in Spain, in which the team finished undefeated and was eliminated only by goal difference. At Espanyol, where he played from 1982 to 1990, he was an idol and reached the UEFA Cup final in 1988. In 1990, he was among the Cameroonians who reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Italy, the best African campaign at that time. N'Kono's performance at the 1990 World Cup inspired Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, then 12 years old, to choose the position. After retiring from his playing career, he dedicated himself to coaching goalkeepers.