Three times African champion and best player of the continent in 2017 and 2019, Laetitia Moma Bassoko, 28, will no longer defend the colors of the Cameroon volleyball selection.
Laetitia Moma Bassoko is no longer playing volleyball for the national team. The 28 year old Cameroonian has retired from international football. She made the news official on her Facebook account. "After almost ten years in the national team and with several collective titles and individual awards, ten years of ups and downs, joy and tears, I think the time has come for me to retire from the international scene," the player wrote.
In fact, she no longer feels physically fit to continue to defend her country's colors. '' I am starting to be physically affected by the years of repeated competitions," she confessed. The need to rest is starting to be felt with the weight of the seasons and especially the position in which I play, which is very physically demanding.
The "lighthouse" goes out
Laetitia Moma Bassoko was one of the most experienced players in the Cameroon squad. She often brought courage and determination to the team. To the point of being presented as the "lighthouse" that guided the Indomitable Lionesses to their multiple victories on the continental stage.
Indeed, Cameroon and Laetitia Moma Bassoko have won the last three African Volleyball Championships. The neo-retired player finished respectively best player (2017 and 2019) and best server (2021) of the continent. These victories, however, leave her with a slightly bitter taste. No doubt because of the failures at the 2014 and 2018 World Championships, and at the 2016 Olympic Games.
"I decided to withdraw from the national team with some regrets on a collective level. Because, I have the feeling that we could still have achieved great things with a little more wisdom and maturity. But I am very proud of what we have achieved at African and international level.''
Born on 9 October 1993, Laetitia Moma Bassoko is one of a family of sportsmen. Her sister is a footballer. And her two younger brothers have chosen volleyball like her. Among them is Kevin Bassoko, libero and African vice-champion of the discipline with Cameroon last year.
A reference in France
Now that she is leaving the international scene, Laetitia Moma Bassoko will have more time to devote to her professional career. She began her career in Germany with a league and cup double for Schweriner SC in 2012. She then moved to France in 2014. She played for VBC Chamalières, Stella ES Calais, VC Marcq-en-Barœul and ended her French stay by winning the championship and the cup with ASPTT Mulhouse in 2021. She also won the title of "Best striker" of the Ligue A with a total of 422 points.
These achievements helped to bring her to South Korea, where she plays for GS Caltex in Seoul. After Stéphanie Fotso and Christelle Nana, Laetitia Moma Bassoko is the third Cameroonian player to retire from international football within a year.
