Cameroon: Simon Ngapandouetnbu, future number one?
After a convincing first game with the Indomitable Lions, Simon Ngapandouetnbu (23 years old) takes part in a debate that has become inevitable: that of the goalkeeping hierarchy. Between the sidelining of André Onana and the uncertainties around Dévis Epassy, the young keeper trained in Marseille could accelerate his rise.
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
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March 31, 2026 could well mark a turning point in Simon Ngapandouetnbu’s international career. Playing for the first time with Cameroon against China at the FIFA Series tournament, the 23-year-old goalkeeper showed up, helping the Indomitable Lions to a 2-0 win with a clean sheet. In a context of reshuffling the squad, this successful baptism of fire is already fueling projections around a possible new number one in the nation’s 5-time African champions' box.
This choice by the technical staff, which saw Dévis Epassy give up his place in the starting eleven, was not insignificant. In search of benchmarks after a defeat against Australia (1-0) four days earlier, the coach David Pagou opted for a rebalancing, offering to Ngapandouetnbu a rare opportunity. The goalkeeper from Montpellier was not only reassuring: he showed an ability to integrate into the game, with 70% of successful passes and a decisive presence on his line.
A window opened by uncertainties
Yet, the emergence of Ngapandouetnbu comes in a particular context for Cameroon. The long-time indisputable exclusion of André Onana redistributes the cards. Behind him, Dévis Epassy seems to have taken over, but his situation at the club weakens his position. Relegated to the bench during the last outings of Dinamo Bucharest, the goalkeeper struggles to offer the necessary long-term guarantees.
Conversely, Ngapandouetnbu capitalizes on a positive dynamic. Loaned to Montpellier, he played a series of matches in Ligue 2 with notable regularity: 27 appearances, 22 goals against for 11 clean sheets and an 80% stoppage rate. Solid statistics that strengthen its credibility in a role that will evolve. Explosive goalkeeper, comfortable in kicking and assuming an "offensive" style, he embodies a new generation more proactive.
The Cameroonian journalist Christian Brice Souga also calls to open the debate without rushing:
"Given the performances in club these last two seasons, especially at Nîmes and Montpellier, the question of Simon’s future in the national team can logically be put on the table." He also highlights a key element: with more than fifty games played in club in less than two years, the young goalkeeper displays a rare continuity at his age. «According to the statistics, it is the Cameroonian goalkeeper who has lined up after André Onana, the largest number of club matches. At only 23 years old, his coaches say that he has not even demonstrated the extent of his full potential. That is to say, he still has a good margin of progress."
The confirmation test
And beyond the performance against China, it is the comparison with Dévis Epassy that feeds the discussions.
"We could clearly see the difference between him and Epassy in terms of foot play, positioning, and even playing on the line,"
says Christian Brice Souga. Without concluding definitively, the analyst pleads for a second start to check the player’s consistency:
"He should be assigned another 90-minute match to reassure himself that it was not just a form of the day."
This caution reflects a central issue: to transform a promise into certainty. Because if Ngapandouetnbu has scored points, the hierarchy of goalkeepers remains an open project. International experience, still limited, remains a decisive criterion in a position where stability is paramount.
At the same time, his future with the club could accelerate his progress. Olympique de Marseille, where he signed as a professional at 16 under the leadership of Andoni Zubizarreta, retains a priority buyout option. In a tense market for reliable goalkeepers, this clause could allow the PHOCEAN club to bet on a profile in full ascent, internally trained and now seasoned.
Born in Foumban in the west of Cameroon, trained in the neighborhoods of Marseille after a childhood between his country and France, Ngapandouetnbu embodies an atypical trajectory, shaped by an early rise and learning in the shadow of figures like Steve Mandanda, his idol and "big brother" to OM. For a long time confined to an understudy role, he now seems ready to take the next step.