Nguémo played for the Cameroon national team from 2006 until 2014, including appearances in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.
He made his professional debut for A.S. Nancy-Lorraine at the age of 19 and scored his first goal in a dramatic 90th-minute winner against Le Havre.
Nguémo made 42 appearances for the Cameroon national team, scoring three goals during his international career.
Biography
Early Life
Joël Landry Tsafack Nguémo was born in Dschang, a town in western Cameroon, where he began his football journey playing for local teams. At the age of 13, he moved to Yaoundé, where he continued to develop his skills and caught the attention of scouts from A.S. Nancy-Lorraine.
Career
Nguémo signed with Nancy at just 15 years old and made his professional debut in August 2005. He quickly became a key player, scoring memorable last-minute goals, including a dramatic winner against Le Havre in January 2009. His performances led to a loan move to Celtic F.C. in July 2009, where he made an immediate impact, earning man of the match honors in his debut. After his time in Scotland, he returned to France, playing for FC Girondins de Bordeaux and AS Saint-Étienne before joining Akhisar Belediyespor in Turkey.
On the international stage, Nguémo represented the Cameroon national team from 2006 to 2014, earning 42 caps and scoring three goals. He was part of the squad that finished as runners-up in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations and participated in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.
Coaching Career and Personal Life
After retiring from professional play, Nguémo transitioned into coaching, taking on roles with youth teams, including a position at his former club, AS Nancy. He was passionate about mentoring young players and was known for his love of falconry, owning a collection of birds of prey, including a white-tailed eagle named Mr. George.
Tragically, Nguémo's life was cut short in a traffic collision near Obala on June 27, 2024, at the age of 38. His legacy as a dedicated player and coach continues to inspire many in the football community.
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Gallery
Career & Clubs
In May 2020, Nguémo was named U18 manager of French club COS Villers-les-Nancy. In June 2021, Nguémo was hired as a youth coach at his former club, AS Nancy.
Nguémo made 42 appearances for the Cameroon national team, scoring three goals and being part of the squad that finished runners-up at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.
Early career
Nguémo was a native of Dschang, a town in western Cameroon, he played for various local teams in Dschang before moving to Yaounde aged 13. He spent a short time in EMC.
Nancy
Nguémo was spotted by scouts of Nancy in Yaoundé and was promptly invited to France where he had trials before signing for the club aged 15. He made his debut aged 19 in August 2005 as a substitute against Lyon in a league match. He made his first start one month later against Troyes. In January 2009, Nguémo said he would welcome a move away from the club after being linked by French and English media with moves to Arsenal, Sunderland and Everton. On 31 January 2009, Nguémo scored his first goal for Nancy, a dramatic 90th-minute winner in a match against Le Havre. His second goal for the club also came in dramatic circumstances when he again netted in the 90th minute on 23 May 2009 against Marseille but Nancy were beaten 2–1.
Loan to Celtic
After days of speculation, on 16 July 2009, Nguémo completed a one-year loan move to Celtic with an option to make it permanent. He wore the number 6 shirt the squad number previously allotted to Bobo Baldé. Nguémo's debut came in the 0–0 draw against Cardiff City where he was picked as Celtic's man of the match. He made his competitive debut in the first leg of a Champions League qualifying tie against Dynamo Moscow in Glasgow, losing 1–0. He was also part of the team that won 2–0 in the return leg in Moscow, sending Celtic…
- Club
- A.S. Nancy-Lorraine (2005–2011)
- Club
- Celtic F.C. (2009–2010)
- Club
- FC Girondins de Bordeaux (2011–2014)
- Club
- AS Saint-Étienne (2015–2015)
- Club
- Akhisar Belediyespor (2015–)
- Club
- Cameroon men's national football team (2006–)
- Club
- AS Saint-Étienne (2014–2015)
- Club
- Cameroon national under-17 football team
- Club
- Cameroon national under-20 football team
- National team
- Cameroon
Personal
Nguémo was a keen falconer and kept a modest collection of bird of prey, with his favourite, a white-tailed eagle named Mr George after George Weah. He obtained French citizenship by naturalization in December 2007. Nguémo died in a traffic collision near the town of Obala in the night between 26 and 27 June 2024. He was 38.
Clubs
- Cameroon men's national football team2006current
- Akhisar Belediyespor2015current
- Cameroon national under-17 football teamcurrent
- Cameroon national under-20 football teamcurrent
- A.S. Nancy-Lorraine2005–2011
- Celtic F.C.2009–2010
- FC Girondins de Bordeaux2011–2014
- AS Saint-Étienne2014–2015
- AS Saint-Étienne2015–2015
Played together with
Aaron BoupendzaFC Girondins de Bordeaux · 2016–2020
Aatif ChahechouheA.S. Nancy-Lorraine · 2009–2011
Abdelaziz BennijA.S. Nancy-Lorraine · 1987–1992- Abdelaziz KamaraAS Saint-Étienne · 2000–2006
Abdelkader FerhaouiAS Saint-Étienne · 1998–2000
Abdelkrim MerryAS Saint-Étienne · 1986–1987- Abdelnasser OuadahA.S. Nancy-Lorraine · 1993–2000
Abderrahman IbrirFC Girondins de Bordeaux · 1946–1947
Abdeslam OuaddouA.S. Nancy-Lorraine · 1998–2001- Abdeslam OuaddouA.S. Nancy-Lorraine · 1999–2001
- Abdeslam OuaddouA.S. Nancy-Lorraine · 2008–2010
- Abdeslam OuaddouA.S. Nancy-Lorraine · 2013–2013
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Joël Landry Tsafack Nguémo was a Cameroonian professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder for Nancy, Bordeaux and Saint-Étienne in France and for Scottish club Celtic on loan. Nguémo played for the Cameroon national team from 2006 until 2014, including at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. From 2020 until his death in 2024, he coached youth football teams, one of which was Nancy.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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