SWOS ECE 95/96
SWOS ECE 95/96

THOMAS NKONO
THOMAS NKONO
Cameroon flag
Number
#1
Nationality
Cameroon
Team
BOLIVAR (Bolivia)
Coach
REYNALDO MERLO
Position
G (Goalkeeper)
Passing (P) Shooting (V) Heading (H) Tackling (T) Control (C) Speed (S) Finishing (F) Total Bargain Value
£650k

Thomas N'Kono (often written N'Kono or Nkono) is a retired Cameroonian goalkeeper, widely regarded as one of Africa's greatest keepers. Below is a concise profile focused on his career and the mention that he played for Bolívar.

  • Full name: Thomas N'Kono (sometimes Thomas N'Kono)
  • Date of birth: December 20, 1956
  • Nationality: Cameroonian
  • Primary position: Goalkeeper

Club career (highlights)

  • Canon Yaoundé (Cameroon) — N'Kono rose to prominence here in the late 1970s and early 1980s, winning domestic titles and continental recognition.
  • Espanyol (Spain) — He moved to RCD Espanyol in 1982 and became well known in La Liga, playing there through much of the 1980s.
  • Bolívar (Bolivia) — Later in his career, Thomas N'Kono had a brief spell with Club Bolívar in Bolivia. This was toward the end of his playing days and is one of the less-documented chapters of his club career compared with his time in Spain and Cameroon.
  • Later/other — After retiring as a player, N'Kono worked as a goalkeeping coach and remained a respected figure in African and international football circles.

International career

  • N'Kono was Cameroon's long-serving international goalkeeper, earning over 100 caps.
  • He starred in multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and played in the FIFA World Cups of 1982 and 1990, famously helping Cameroon reach the quarterfinals in 1990.

Legacy

  • Thomas N'Kono is celebrated for his reflexes, shot-stopping and charismatic presence. He influenced a generation of African goalkeepers and is often mentioned alongside the continent's greatest players.
  • He later served as a goalkeeping coach, including a role with the Cameroon national team, passing on his experience to younger players.

This summary emphasizes his career overall and notes his stint with Club Bolívar in Bolivia as part of his late-career club history.