:Emmanuel Kundé

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Emmanuel Kundé

| image = Emmanuel-Kunde-a-la-Coupe-du-Monde-de-1990.jpg

| caption = Kundé in the 1990 World Cup

| full_name = Emmanuel Jérôme Kundé

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1956|7|15|df=y}}

| birth_place = Ndom, French Cameroon

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|5|16|1956|7|15|df=y}}

| height = 1.86 m

| position = Defender

| years1 = 1973–1975

| clubs1 = Mbankomo Club

| years2 = 1975–1977

| clubs2 = Tempête de Nanga-Eboko

| years3 = 1977–1987

| clubs3 = Canon Yaoundé

| years4 = 1987–1988

| clubs4 = Laval

| caps4 = 14

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 1988–1989

| clubs5 = Reims

| caps5 = 32

| goals5 = 3

| years6 = 1989–1990

| clubs6 = Prévoyance Yaoundé

| years7 = 1991–1992

| clubs7 = Olympic Mvolyé

| nationalyears1 = 1979–1992

| nationalteam1 = Cameroon[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/kam-kunde-intl.html Emmanuel Jérôme Kundé - Century of International Appearances]

| nationalcaps1 = 102

| nationalgoals1 = 17

| manageryears1 = 1997–1998

| managerclubs1 = Canon Yaoundé

| manageryears2 = 1999–2000

| managerclubs2 = US Bitam

| manageryears3 = 2000

| managerclubs3 = PWD Bamenda

| manageryears4 = 2001–2006

| managerclubs4 = US Bitam

| managerclubs5 = Hemle Football Club De Botko

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}

{{MedalCountry|{{fb|CMR}}}}

}}

Emmanuel Jérôme Kundé (15 July 1956 – 16 May 2025)[https://briefly.co.za/sports/football/215961-emmanuel-kunde-dies-aged-68-cameroon-legend-time-afcon-winner-remembered/ Emmanuel Kundé Dies Aged 68: Cameroon Legend and Two-Time AFCON Winner Remembered] was a Cameroonian professional footballer who played as a defender. He spent the majority of his professional career playing for Canon Yaoundé. He was also a member of the Cameroon national team at the World Cups of 1982 and 1990 and won the 1984 and 1988 African Nations Cups.

Kundé scored the winning goal in the 1988 African Nations Cup final against Nigeria with a penalty kick.{{cite web | url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/88a.html | title=African Nations Cup 1988 | website=RSSSF | access-date=25 October 2011}} Two years later, in the 1990 World Cup quarterfinal match against England, he scored to equalize the score 1–1, again via a penalty kick. He also took part in 1992 African Nations Cup while playing for Olympic Mvolyé.{{cite web | url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/92a.html | title=African Nations Cup 1992 | website=RSSSF | access-date=25 October 2011}}

Early life and club career

Kundé was born in Ndom, French Cameroon on 15 July 1956. He began his football career with Mbankomo Club (1973–1975), followed by a stint at Tempête de Nanga-Eboko (1975–1977). He later joined Canon Yaoundé, where he played from 1977 to 1987. While at the club, he won several domestic championships and was part of the team that reached the final of the African Cup Winners' Cup in 1984.{{Cite web |last=Strack-Zimmermann |first=Benjamin |title=Emmanuel Kundé (Player) |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/21971/Emmanuel_Kunde.html |access-date=16 May 2025 |website=National Football Teams |language=en}}

International career

Kundé was a member of the Cameroon national team, earning 102 international caps and scoring 17 goals between 1979 and 1992. He participated in three editions of the African Nations Cups, winning the tournament in 1984 and 1988, and finishing as runner-up in 1986.

He also featured in the 1982 and 1990 FIFA World Cups.{{Cite web |title=African football: Mainstay of historic Cameroon side from 1990 World Cup, Emmanuel Kunde, dies {{!}} Flashscore.com |url=https://www.flashscore.com/news/soccer-fifa-club-world-cup-mainstay-of-historic-cameroon-side-from-1990-world-cup-emmanuel-kunde-passes-away/Ia9WWySh/ |access-date=16 May 2025 |website=www.flashscore.com |language=en}} At the 1990 tournament, he notably scored a penalty in the quarter-final against England.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Grahame L. |date=2 July 1990 |title=WORLD CUP '90 : England Ends the Dream : Soccer: Two penalty kicks by Lineker result in goals and longshot Cameroon is ousted in overtime, 3-2. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-02-sp-470-story.html? |access-date=16 May 2025 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

Coaching career

Following his retirement from professional football, Kundé transitioned into coaching. He managed several Cameroonian clubs, including Canon Yaoundé and Union Douala, and has held various technical positions within the national team structure.{{Cite web |date=5 November 2019 |title=Ancienne gloire: Emmanuel Kundé, la force tranquille |url=https://www.camerounsports.info/37606-ancienne-gloire-emmanuel-kunde-la-force-tranquille.html |access-date=16 May 2025 |website=CamerounSports |language=fr-FR}}{{Cite web |last=Ikechukwu |first=Chukwu |date=16 May 2025 |title=Football Mourns As Cameroon Ex-Footballer and Two-Time AFCON Winner Dies in His Sleep |url=https://www.legit.ng/sports/football/1655332-football-mourns-cameroon-footballer-time-afcon-winner-dies-sleep/ |access-date=16 May 2025 |website=Legit |language=en}}

Death

Kundé died from cardiac arrest in his residence on 16 May 2025 at the age of 68.{{cite news|date=19 May 2025|title=Cameroon soccer great Emmanuel Kundé dies at age 68 |url=https://www.africanews.com/2025/05/19/cameroon-soccer-great-emmanuel-kunde-dies-at-age-68/ |work=Africanews |language=en |access-date=20 May 2025}} His death was confirmed by the Cameroonian Football Federation,{{Cite web |date=16 May 2025 |title=Cameroon Concord |url=https://cameroon-concord.com/sports/cameroon-mourns-football-legend-emmanuel-kunde-hero-of-1990-world-cup-squad |access-date=16 May 2025 |website=Cameroon Concord-In the Heart of Cameroon's News Pulse |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Ncube |date=16 May 2025 |title=Emmanuel Kundé Dies Aged 68: Cameroon Legend and Two-Time AFCON Winner Remembered |url=https://briefly.co.za/sports/football/215961-emmanuel-kunde-dies-aged-68-cameroon-legend-time-afcon-winner-remembered/ |access-date=16 May 2025 |website=Briefly |language=en}} which described it as a significant loss for Cameroonian football.{{Cite web |date=16 May 2025 |title=Former Cameroon Football Legend Emmanuel Kunde Dies In His Sleep At 68 |url=https://saharareporters.com/2025/05/16/former-cameroon-football-legend-emmanuel-kunde-dies-his-sleep-68 |website=Sahara Reporters}}