Sports fraternity pays tribute to fallen Lions icon, Emmanuel Kunde.

Details about the demise of the 1990 FIFA World Cup star remain sketchy though sources say he quit the scene after succumbing to a heart attack.

Kunde won two Africa Cup of Nations trophies with Cameroon and was part of the Indomitable Lions FIFA World Cup debut in 1982 and the 1990 edition competition where Cameroon made history by becoming the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals.

Since his demise, fans and institutions have been paying tribute to the former Canon of Yaounde and Reims football club man.

Many have described him as one of the greatest footballers that Cameroon has ever produced both in terms of successes recorded at the club and national team levels.

The Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT, termed his exit a great loss to Cameroonian football.

“His disappearance constitutes a huge loss for Cameroonian football. FECAFOOT joins the national football community to offer the family and loved ones its deepest condolences,” the federation said in a short statement posted on its official Facebook page.

FECAFOOT president, Samuel Eto’o Fils, also visited the family of the former footballer-turned-trainer. Other former and active footballers also rained praises on the late defending sensation. 

Fallen icon

Kunde left lasting legacies at the domestic and international levels in the football, featuring in three finals of AFCON, coming through as champion in the 1984 and 1988 editions in Cote d’Ivoire and Morocco.

He powered in the winning penalty kick to help Cameroon beat Nigeria in the 1988 AFCON final. Kunde represented Cameroon at the 1982 FIFA World Cup where the Indomitable Lions made their debut in the global event. 

Kunde returned to play four matches for Cameroon during the historic 1990 tournament in Italy where the Indomitable Lions became the first African team to make it to the quarterfinals of the Mundial. 

The man who bagged a total of 127 appearances for the Indomitable Lions, scored during Cameroon’s 3-2 defeat to England in the quarterfinal fixture of the Italia 1990 World Cup.

At the club level, he won two CAF Champions League trophies and six first division championship titles with Canon of Yaounde. He equally bagged three Cup of Cameroon trophies with Canon and two additional trophies in the event with Prevoyance of Yaounde and Olympic of Mvolye. 

Kunde also secured two African Cup Winners trophies.  In 1985, the man who easily transitioned into the coaching, bagged the Cameroon Ballon d’Or Award. He coached several teams after retiring, notably winning a Gabonese league crown with US Bitam and two Gabonese cup trophies with the outfit. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3451 of Wednesday May 21, 2025