Cameroon: Benjamin Moukandjo calls time on his career
Benjamin Moukandjo has retired from football, a career highlighted by Africa Cup of Nations victory in 2017 with the Indomitable Lions
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At 34, Benjamin Moukandjo has decided to hang up his boots. The former Monaco player announced the end of his career on social media. "I humbly thank everyone, near and far, who encouraged me through all these years of hardship, sacrifice and pain, but also and above all of joy, encounters and emotion", he wrote on Sunday.
From Kadji Sport (Cameroon) to Larissa (Greece), via Lorient and Rennes in France, Benjamin Moukandjo has played for plenty of clubs. To be precise, in Europe he had 8 clubs, and 2 in China. A real globetrotter. But it was in France that his talent flourished. First at Nancy (23 goals and 5 assists in 94 matches) but above all at Lorient (26 goals and 6 assists in 61 games). His acceleration down the right flank, whichever club he was playing for, left many defenders dizzy.
Benjamin Moukandjo (34) has announced his retirement from football.#Cameroon 🇨🇲 pic.twitter.com/9qvOohwSlB
— The Cameroonian 🇨🇲 (@TheCameroonianZ) November 14, 2022
AFCON 2017, a career high
Of all the moments in his career, Benjamin Moukandjo will inevitably hold one in special regard: AFCON 2017. The player, who has 57 caps and 8 goals, won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017 with the Indomitable Lions, beating Mohamed Salah's Egypt in the final. What is more, he played a major role as captain of that side. He also finished as the tournament's top provider with 3 assists. And in his retirement message, the former Lorient player did not forget to look back on that triumph.
"I was honoured by the trust placed in me to be your captain and to see through the mission entrusted to us at AFCON 2017, for the love and pride of an entire people", Benjamin Moukandjo admitted.