Frank Anguissa

{{short description|Cameroonian footballer (born 1995)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}

{{Family name hatnote|Zambo Anguissa|Anguissa}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Frank Anguissa

| image = ZAMBO ANGUISSA.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Zambo Anguissa with Cameroon at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations

| full_name = André-Frank Zambo Anguissa{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/844127 |title=2018/19 Premier League squads confirmed |publisher=Premier League |date=3 September 2018 |access-date=4 September 2018}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|11|16|df=y}}

| birth_place = Yaoundé, Cameroon

| height = 1.84 m{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce44/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: List of players: Cameroon |publisher=FIFA |page=5 |date=15 November 2022 |access-date=3 December 2022}}

| position = Central midfielder

| currentclub = Napoli

| clubnumber = 99

| youthyears1 = 2004–2013

| youthclubs1 = Fortuna

| youthyears2 = 2013–2014

| youthclubs2 = Coton Sport

| youthyears3 = 2014–2015

| youthclubs3 = → Reims (loan)

| years1 = 2015–2018

| clubs1 = Marseille

| caps1 = 79

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2018–2022

| clubs2 = Fulham

| caps2 = 61

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2019–2020

| clubs3 = → Villarreal (loan)

| caps3 = 36

| goals3 = 2

| years4 = 2021–2022

| clubs4 = → Napoli (loan)

| caps4 = 25

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2022–

| clubs5 = Napoli

| caps5 = 103

| goals5 = 9

| nationalyears1 = 2017–

| nationalteam1 = Cameroon

| nationalcaps1 = 63

| nationalgoals1 = 5

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

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

{{MedalCompetition|Africa Cup of Nations}}

{{Medal|3rd|2021 Cameroon|}}

| club-update = 20:45, 11 May 2025 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update = 23:20, 19 November 2024 (UTC)

}}

André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (born 16 November 1995), also known as Frank Anguissa, is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for {{Italian football updater|Napoli}} club Napoli and the Cameroon national team.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/franck-zambo/394835/|title=Z. Anguissa |website=Soccerway |access-date=27 August 2018}}

Early life

Zambo Anguissa was born on 16 November 1995 in Yaoundé to Louis and Juliette Anguissa. He is one of six children.{{Cite news|url=https://goal90.com/biography/frank-anguissa-childhood-career-religion-wife/|title=Frank Anguissa Bio: Profile, Religion, Wife|work=Goal90|date=1 December 2020|accessdate=5 March 2025}}

Club career

= Early career =

Zambo Anguissa began his career in Coton Sport, a club in his native country. He was loaned to French club Reims in 2014, where he mostly played for their reserves team. Reims was given the opportunity to sign him at the end of the 2014–15 season, but decided against it.{{Cite web |date=2016-05-06 |title=OM : Zambo 2, la mission |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Article/Om-zambo-2-la-mission/669072 |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=L'Équipe |language=fr}}{{Cite news |last=Rutzler |first=Peter |date=2020-12-01 |title=Rejected by Reims to a force at Fulham – the rise of Frank Anguissa |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2225848/2020/12/01/frank-anguissa-fulham-villarreal/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |work=The Athletic |language=en |issn=}}

= Marseille =

After going on trials at Valenciennes and Marseille, Zambo Anguissa joined Marseille on 31 July 2015, when he signed his first professional contract.{{Cite web |date=2015-07-31 |title=L'OM recrute un espoir camerounais |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Andre-franck-zambo-anguissa-a-l-om/578271 |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=L'Équipe |language=fr}} He made his first team debut on 17 September 2015 in the UEFA Europa League against FC Groningen, where he provided an assist in a 3–0 victory for Marseille.{{Cite web |date=2018-05-16 |title='He wore grandad sweaters' - Meet Ligue 1 Rising Star Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa {{!}} Goal.com |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/he-wore-grandad-sweaters---meet-ligue-1-rising-star-andre-frank-zambo-anguissa/es4j5gan5vlb1s4knbpsi8ttv |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Goal.com |language=en}} Three days later, he made his Ligue 1 debut against Lyon.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/09/20/france/ligue-1/olympique-de-marseille/olympique-lyonnais/2045909/|title=Marseille vs. Lyon – 20 September 2015 |website=Soccerway |accessdate=24 September 2015}}

On 16 May 2018, Zambo Anguissa played in the 2018 UEFA Europa League final, which Marseille lost against Atlético Madrid at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon, France.{{Cite news |date=2018-05-15 |title=Europa League final: Marseille 0-3 Atletico Madrid |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44113764 |access-date=2025-02-16 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}

=Fulham=

On 9 August 2018, Fulham signed Zambo Anguissa on a then-club record transfer fee.{{Cite news |last=Fifield |first=Dominic |date=2018-08-09 |title=Fulham break record with £30m Anguissa transfer on frantic last day |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/aug/09/fulham-andre-frank-zambo-anguissa-timothy-fosu-mensah-luciano-vietto |accessdate=2025-02-16 |newspaper=The Guardian |language=en |issn=}} He made his debut in a 3–1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2018-08-18 |title=Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Fulham |url=https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/08/first-team-2018_2019-league-away-tottenham-hotspur/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Fulham FC}}

He was loaned to Villarreal in July 2019 following Fulham's relegation from the Premier League.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49134505 |title=Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa: Villarreal sign Fulham midfielder on loan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 July 2019 |access-date=26 July 2019}} He made his Villarreal debut on 17 August, playing the full 90 minutes in a 4–4 home draw against Granada.{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/cronica/2019/08/18/5d5885deca4741365e8b45aa.html|title=Villarreal and Granada draw in eight-goal thriller|newspaper=Marca|date=18 August 2019|accessdate=18 August 2019}}

On 31 August 2021, Zambo Anguissa signed a new three-year contract with the Championship club before heading out on loan to Napoli for the 2021–22 season.{{cite news |date=2021-08-31 |title=Il Napoli ufficializza l'acquisto di Anguissa con la formula del prestito con diritto di riscatto |url=https://www.sscnapoli.it/static/news/Il-Napoli-ufficializza-l-acquisto-di-Anguissa-con-la-formula-del-prestito-con-diritto-di-riscatto-23331.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831163633/https://www.sscnapoli.it/static/news/Il-Napoli-ufficializza-l-acquisto-di-Anguissa-con-la-formula-del-prestito-con-diritto-di-riscatto-23331.aspx |archivedate=2021-08-31 |access-date=2021-08-31 |publisher=SSC Napoli |language=it |url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-08-31 |title=Extended Deal & Loan For Frank |url=https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/august/Extended-Deal-Loan-For-Frank/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Fulham FC |language=en}}

=Napoli=

On 26 May 2022, Napoli purchased Zambo Anguissa's rights from Fulham.{{cite news|publisher=S.S.C. Napoli|url=https://www.sscnapoli.it/static/news/Il-Napoli-ufficializza-il-riscatto-di-Frank-Anguissa-dal-Fulham-25184.aspx|title=Il Napoli ufficializza il riscatto di Frank Anguissa dal Fulham|date=26 May 2022|access-date=9 June 2022|language=it}} On 7 September, he scored his first Champions League goal in a 4–1 win over Liverpool.{{Cite news |last=Hunter |first=Andy |date=2022-09-07 |title=Humiliation for Liverpool as vibrant Napoli rip them to shreds |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/sep/07/napoli-liverpool-champions-league-group-a-match-report |accessdate=2025-02-16 |newspaper=The Guardian |language=en |issn=}} On 1 October, he scored his first Serie A goals, by netting a brace in a 3–1 win over Torino.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-10-01 |title=Napoli-Torino LIVE |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-a/partite/2022/giornata-8/napoli-torino/risultato-gol?lbp=2 |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=sport.sky.it |language=it}} At the end of the season, Zambo Anguissa and Napoli won the Serie A title for the first time in 33 years.{{cite news|url=https://www.legaseriea.it/en/media/serie-a/napoli-are-champions-of-italy-6m91mha|title=Napoli are champions of Italy|publisher=Serie A|date= 4 May 2023|access-date=4 May 2023}}

International career

=2017: Debut and FIFA Confederations Cup=

File:2017 Confederation Cup - CMRCHI - Zambo Anguissa.jpg at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup]]

Zambo Anguissa made his international debut for the Cameroon national team in a friendly 1–0 win over Tunisia on 24 March 2017.{{cite web |url=http://fecafoot-officiel.com/?p=7842 |title=Tunisie vs Cameroun : 23 lions au boulot à Diegem | Federation Camerounaise de Football |website=fecafoot-officiel.com |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326140103/http://fecafoot-officiel.com/?p=7842 |archive-date=26 March 2017 |url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |agency=Reuters|date=2017-03-11 |title=Cameroon recall Choupo-Moting and Anguissa for friendlies |url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/2017/03/11/58c42ff246163f5e388b45dc.html |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=MARCA |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2017-03-25 |title=African champions Cameroon start reign with Tunisia victory |url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsParis/261597.aspx |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Ahram Online |language=en}}

Zambo Anguissa was included in the Indomitable Lions' squad for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.{{cite web |date=20 March 2018 |title=FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017: List of Players |url=http://tournament.fifadata.com/documents/FCC/2017/PDF/FCC_2017_SQUADLISTS.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724170755/http://tournament.fifadata.com/documents/FCC/2017/PDF/FCC_2017_SQUADLISTS.PDF |archive-date=24 July 2017 |access-date=15 June 2019 |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)}} He would score his first international goal in Cameroon's 1–1 group stage draw against Australia,{{Cite news |last=Perry |first=Sam |date=2017-06-22 |title=Cameroon 1-1 Australia: Confederations Cup – as it happened |url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2017/jun/23/cameroon-v-australia-confederations-cup-live |access-date=2024-07-12 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=}} where he also won the man of the match award for his performance.{{Cite news|url=https://naharnet.com/stories/en/231896-australia-draw-with-cameroon-at-confederations-cup|title=Australia Draw with Cameroon at Confederations Cup|work=Naharnet.com|date=23 June 2017|accessdate=1 April 2025}}

=2019–2022: First Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup=

In June 2019, Zambo Anguissa was named to Cameroon's squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.{{cite web |date=2019-06-11 |title=Voici les 23 Lions retenus pour la CAN 2019 |url=https://fecafoot-officiel.com/voici-les-23-lions-retenus-pour-la-can-2019/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616210521/https://fecafoot-officiel.com/voici-les-23-lions-retenus-pour-la-can-2019/ |archive-date=2019-06-16 |access-date=2019-06-12 |publisher=fecafoot-officiel.com |language=fr}} He would also feature at the 2021 tournament, in which Cameroon were hosts and finished in third place.{{cite web |date=22 December 2021 |title=TotalEnergies AFCON 2021: Cameroon names final squad |url=https://www.cafonline.com/total-africa-cup-of-nations/news/totalenergies-afcon-2021-cameroon-names-final-squad |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118040650/https://www.cafonline.com/total-africa-cup-of-nations/news/totalenergies-afcon-2021-cameroon-names-final-squad |archive-date=18 January 2022 |access-date=27 December 2021 |publisher=Confederation of African Football}}{{Cite news |title=Burkina Faso 3-3 Cameroon - Cameroon win 5-3 on penalties: Stunning comeback sees AFCON hosts secure third place |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12532822/burkina-faso-3-3-cameroon-cameroon-win-5-3-on-penalties-stunning-comeback-sees-afcon-hosts-secure-third-place#:~:text=German%20Bundesliga-,Burkina%20Faso%203-3%20Cameroon%20-%20Cameroon%20win%205-3,AFCON%20hosts%20secure%20third%20place |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219065331/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12532822/burkina-faso-3-3-cameroon-cameroon-win-5-3-on-penalties-stunning-comeback-sees-afcon-hosts-secure-third-place#:~:text=German%20Bundesliga-,Burkina%20Faso%203-3%20Cameroon%20-%20Cameroon%20win%205-3,AFCON%20hosts%20secure%20third%20place |archive-date=19 December 2022 |access-date=2025-02-16 |work=Sky Sports |language=en-GB |url-status=live }}

At the end of the 2022 calendar year, Zambo Anguissa would be called up by new national team manager Rigobert Song to Cameroon's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.{{cite tweet |number=1590446431575638016 |user=LIndomptables |title=Liste des 26 Lions Indomptables qui iront défendre les couleurs du Cameroun à la Coupe du Monde FIFA Qatar 2022. |author=Les Lions Indomptables Officiel |date=2022-11-09 |access-date=2022-11-12 |language=fr |trans-title=}} He played in all three group stage matches as his side failed to progress to the second round.{{Cite news|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/sports/article/2022/12/02/cameroon-upset-brazil-still-eliminated-from-world-cup_6006432_9.html|title=Cameroon upset Brazil, still eliminated from World Cup|work=Le Monde|date=2 December 2022|accessdate=30 March 2025}}

=2023–present: Second Africa Cup of Nations and assuming the captaincy=

On 29 December 2023, Zambo Anguissa was included in the 27-man squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.{{Cite news|url=https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/africa-cup-of-nations/articles-video/cameroon-announces-27-man-squad-for-african-cup-of-nations-2023-12-29|title=Cameroon Announces 27-Man Squad For Africa Cup Of Nations|work=beIN Sports|date=29 December 2023|accessdate=6 April 2025}}

Style of play

His style of play is definitely robust, highlighted by a dominant aerial presence and a high duel win rate. However, Anguissa's progressive carrying is notably lower, which suggests he does not frequently advance the ball through dribbling but favours a play style rooted in stability and distribution.{{Cite news|url=https://scoutingstats.ai/player/andre-frank-zambo-anguissa-3139/#:~:text=His%20style%20of%20play%20is,rooted%20in%20stability%20and%20distribution.|title=Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa Scout Report|work=ScoutingStats|date=2 March 2024|accessdate=1 April 2025}}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 11 May 2025}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

!rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Coupe de France, FA Cup, Copa del Rey, Coppa Italia}}

!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Coupe de la Ligue, EFL Cup}}

!colspan="2"|Europe

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

Division||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals
rowspan="4"|Marseille

|2015–16

|Ligue 1

|9

010201{{efn|name=UEL}}0colspan="2"|—130
2016–17

|Ligue 1

|33

03010colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—370
2017–18

|Ligue 1

|37

0201016{{efn|name=UEL}}0colspan="2"|—560
colspan="2"|Total

!79||0||6||0||4||0||17||0||colspan="2"|—||106||0

rowspan="4"|Fulham

|2018–19

|Premier League

|22

00030colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—250
2020–21

|Premier League

|36

01010colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—380
2021–22

|Championship

|3

00000colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—30
colspan="2"|Total

!61

01040colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—660
Villarreal (loan)

|2019–20

|La Liga

|36

230colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—392
Napoli (loan)

|2021–22

|Serie A

|25

000colspan="2"|—5{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}0colspan="2"|—300
rowspan="4"|Napoli

|2022–23

|Serie A

|36

310colspan="2"|—8{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}1colspan="2"|—454
2023–24

|Serie A

|34

000colspan="2"|—7{{efn|name=UCL}}100411
2024–25

|Serie A

|33

620colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—356
colspan="2"|Total

!128

930colspan="2"|—2020015111
colspan="3"|Career total

!301

11130803720035913

{{notelist}}

=International=

{{updated|match played 19 November 2024}}{{NFT player|id=67549|access-date=}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year

!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals

rowspan="8"|Cameroon

|2017

112
201840
201990
202021
202192
2022110
202350
2024120
colspan="2"|Total||63||5

:Scores and results list Cameroon's goal tally first.

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by André-Frank Zambo Anguissa

!No.!!Date!!Venue!!Opponent!!Score!!Result!!Competition

align=center | 122 June 2017Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia{{fb|AUS}}align=center | 1–0align=center | 1–12017 FIFA Confederations Cup
align=center | 211 November 2017Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia{{fb|ZAM}}align=center | 1–1align=center | 2–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification
align=center | 312 November 2020Stade de la Réunification, Douala, Cameroon{{fb|MOZ}}align=center | 3–0align=center | 4–12021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
align=center | 44 June 2021Stadion Wiener Neustadt, Wiener Neustadt, Austria{{fb|NGA}}align=center | 1–0align=center | 1–0Friendly
align=center | 513 November 2021Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa{{fb|MWI}}align=center | 2–0align=center | 4–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Marseille

  • UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2017–18{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2022218--marseille-vs-atletico/ |title=2017/18, Final: Marseille 0–3 Atlético: Overview |publisher=UEFA |accessdate=8 August 2020}}

Napoli

  • Serie A: 2022–23{{cite web |date=4 May 2023 |title=Napoli win Serie A for first time in 33 years |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65488842 |access-date=4 May 2023 |website=BBC Sport}}

Cameroon

  • Africa Cup of Nations third place: 2021{{cite news|date=6 February 2022|title=Cameroon beats Burkina Faso to end AFCON 2021 in third place|url=https://www.africanews.com/2022/02/06/cameroon-beats-burkina-faso-to-end-afcon-2021-in-third-place/|access-date=6 February 2022|website=Africanews}}

Individual

  • CAF Team of the Year: 2023{{cite news |date=11 December 2023 |title=Osimhen, Oshoala named African Men's and Women's Player of the Year at the CAF Awards 2023 |url=https://www.cafonline.com/news/osimhen-oshoala-named-african-men-s-and-women-s-player-of-the-year-at-the-caf-awards-2023/ |access-date=12 December 2023 |publisher=CAF}}
  • Serie A Player of the Month: January 2025{{cite press release|url=https://www.legaseriea.it/en/media/serie-a/frank-anguissa-ea-sports-fc-player-of-the-month-for-january|title=Frank Anguissa "EA Sports FC Player of the Month" for January|access-date=6 February 2025|date=6 February 2025|publisher=Serie A}}

References

{{Reflist}}