Here in Cameroon, football is our leading political party. It's football alone that that unites us, it's football alone that brings us good things - football is the window into our country - so we don't mess around with it.

He agreed and went to Italy with the Indomitable Lions for the 1990 World Cup. Post-playing career
He is now an itinerant ambassador for African causes. In 1977 he was lured to Europe by the French club Valenciennes.

He was named one of the 125 greatest living football players in 2004 by the legendary Brazilian football player Pelé. He achieved international stardom at 38 years old an age at which most forward-playing footballers have retired by scoring four goals at the 1990 World Cup the most memorable of which came in the match against Colombia when he dispossessed the showboating Colombian goalkeeper René Higuita 35 yards from goal going on to score in the empty net with Higuita stranded. In the years that have followed he has been recognised as a pioneer of the many unconventional and imaginative goal celebrations seen since then.