Nouhou Tolo
{{short description|Cameroonian footballer (born 1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Nouhou Tolo
| image = Nouhou 2.jpg
| caption = Nouhou with Seattle Sounders FC in 2017
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|6|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = Douala, Cameroon
| currentclub = Seattle Sounders FC
| clubnumber = 5
| position = Defender
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 2015
| clubs1 = Rainbow Bamenda
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 2016
| clubs2 = Seattle Sounders FC 2
| caps2 = 24
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2017–
| clubs3 = Seattle Sounders FC
| caps3 = 198
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2017–2018
| clubs4 = → Tacoma DefianceFormerly known as Seattle Sounders FC 2 until the 2019 season. (loan)
| caps4 = 8
| goals4 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2017
| nationalteam1 = Cameroon U20
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2019
| nationalteam2 = Cameroon U23
| nationalcaps2 = 1
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2017–
| nationalteam3 = Cameroon
| nationalcaps3 = 39
| nationalgoals3 = 1
| club-update = 21:16, 25 March 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 25 March 2025
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|CMR}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Medal|3rd|2021 Cameroon|}}
}}
Nouhou Tolo ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|uː|h|uː|_|ˈ|t|oʊ|l|oʊ}}; born 23 June 1997), sometimes known mononymically as Nouhou, is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC and the Cameroon national team.{{cite web|title=Sounders FC signs defender Nouhou Tolo|url=http://www.soundersfc.com/post/2017/01/26/sounders-fc-signs-defender-nouhou-tolo|website=SoundersFC.com|publisher=Sounders FC Communications|access-date=26 January 2017|date=26 January 2017}} He represented Cameroon at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations{{Cite web|title=Africa Cup of Nations (Sky Sports)|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/cameroon-vs-burkina/teams/457194|access-date=8 February 2022|website=Sky Sports|language=en}} and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Club career
Nouhou began his career in 2015 with Rainbow Bamenda, where he played for one season. A contract dispute over who owned his rights between teams in Cameroon initially blocked his transfer to the United States,{{cite web|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-sign-cameroonian-defender-nouhou-tolo/|title=Sounders sign Cameroonian defender Nouhou Tolo|website=Seattletimes.com|publisher=Seattle Times|access-date=8 February 2017|date=26 January 2017}} but in April 2016, Nouhou signed with Seattle Sounders FC 2.{{cite web|url=http://www.soundersfc.com/post/2016/04/13/seattle-sounders-fc-2-sign-cameroonian-defender-nouhou-tolo|title=Seattle Sounders FC 2 sign Cameroonian defender Nouhou Tolo|website=SoundersFC.com|publisher=Sounders FC Communications|access-date=8 February 2017|date=13 April 2016}} He made 24 league appearances and lead the team in minutes played.
Nouhou signed with Seattle Sounders FC on 26 January 2017, earning his first team contract after performing admirably for S2 in 2016, according to General Manager Garth Lagerway. Nouhou scored his first professional goal while loaned down to S2 on 15 April 2017, the second goal in a 2–1 away win over LA Galaxy II.{{cite web|author1=Ari Liljenwall |title=Sounders FC 2 earn road win at LA Galaxy II behind Nouhou goal|url=http://www.soundersfc.com/post/2017/04/15/sounders-fc-2-earn-road-win-la-galaxy-ii-behind-nouhou-goal |website=SoundersFC.com|access-date=17 April 2017|date=15 April 2017}}
Nouhou made his Seattle Sounders FC debut on 31 May 2017, coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 loss to Columbus Crew.{{cite web|publisher=Sounders FC Communications |title=Sounders FC falls short with 3-0 road loss at Columbus|url=https://www.soundersfc.com/post/2017/05/31/sounders-fc-falls-short-3-0-road-loss-columbus |website=SoundersFC.com|access-date=2 June 2017|date=31 May 2017}} He quickly became a fan favorite amongst Sounders FC supporters, often known for his showmanship during matches.{{cite news |last=Pentz |first=Matt |date=27 May 2021 |title='With Nouhou, what can you say?': The Sounders' beloved cult hero is thriving in a new role |url=https://theathletic.com/2615482/2021/05/27/sounders-nouhou-mls/ |work=The Athletic |access-date=15 June 2022}} Nouhou was named to the 2021 MLS All-Star Game roster.{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Jayda |date=14 May 2022 |title=Nouhou has had a breakout year on the world stage, and the Sounders may not be able to keep him for long |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/nouhou-has-had-a-breakout-year-on-the-world-stage-and-the-sounders-may-not-be-able-to-keep-him-for-long/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=24 November 2022}} He scored his first goal for the Sounders against the Houston Dynamo on 4 September 2022. He also registered an assist in the game, earning Man of the Match honors.{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Jayda |date=4 September 2022 |title=Nouhou gets his first goal with Sounders as they beat Dynamo to keep playoff hopes alive |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/nouhou-gets-his-first-goal-with-sounders-as-they-beat-dynamo-to-keep-playoff-hopes-alive/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=24 November 2022}}
International career
In February 2017, Nouhou was called up to represent the Cameroon U20s in the 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Zambia.{{cite web|author1=Graeme Jackson |title=Junior Lions confirm squad for U-20 AFCON|url=http://africanfootball.com/news/689985/Junior-Lions-confirm-squad-for-U-20-AFCON|website=AfricanFootball.com|access-date=23 February 2017|date=22 February 2017}} Nouhou made his under-20 debut on 27 February 2017, starting at left back in a 3–1 loss against South Africa in the first group stage game of the tournament.{{cite web|author1=Austin Ditlhobolo |title=Singh inspires South Africa to victory in U20 AFCON clash|url=http://africanfootball.com/match-report/43307/Cameroon-U20-vs-South-Africa-U20|website=AfricanFootball.com|access-date=27 February 2017|date=27 February 2017}}
Nouhou made his debut for the Cameroon national team in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification 2–2 tie with Zambia on 11 November 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=276412/match=300367113/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819052019/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=276412/match=300367113/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 August 2016|title=2018 FIFA World Cup Russia - Matches - Zambia-Cameroon |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association|website=FIFA.com}}
On November 9, 2022, Nouhou was named in Cameroon's final 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/world-cup-philly-s-olivier-mbaizo-seattle-s-nouhou-make-cameroon-roster|title=World Cup: Philly's Olivier Mbaizo, Seattle's Nouhou make Cameroon roster |publisher= MLS Soccer|website=mlssoccer.com}} He started all three matches for his country, including their historic 1-0 victory over Brazil.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/633831|title=2022 FIFA World Cup, Group Stage - Matches - Cameroon-Brazil|publisher=ESPN|website=ESPN.com}}
Career statistics
= Club =
{{updated|match played 19 March 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 !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4" |Seattle Sounders FC 2
|2016{{USL Championship player|nouhou-tolo}} |USL |24 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 24 | 0 | ||||
| 2017
|USL |6 | 1 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 6 | 1 | ||||
| 2018
|USL |1 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 1 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!31 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 1 | ||||
| |Tacoma Defiance
|2019 |USL |1 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 1 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="10"|Seattle Sounders FC
|2017{{MLS player|nouhou-tolo}} |MLS |19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 5{{efn|Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs|name=Play}} | 0 | 26 | 0 | ||
| 2018
|MLS |28 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 1{{efn|Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League|name=Con}} | 0 | 2{{efn|name=Play}} | 0 | 31 | 0 | ||
| 2019
|MLS |22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 2{{efn|name=Play}} | 0 | 25 | 0 | ||
| 2020
|MLS |22 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 2{{efn|name=Con}} | 0 | 4{{efn|name=Play}} | 0 | 28 | 0 | ||
| 2021
|MLS |19 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 19 | 0 | ||||
| 2022
|MLS |30 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7{{efn|name=Con}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 1 | |
| 2023
|MLS |28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6{{efn|Two appearances in Leagues Cup, four appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs}} | 0 | 34 | 1 | |
| 2024
|MLS |27 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 8{{efn|Five appearances in Leagues Cup, three appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs}} | 0 | 38 | 0 | ||
| 2025
|MLS |3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4{{efn|name=Con}} | |0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!158 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 246 | 2 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!230 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 278 | 3 |
{{notelist}}
= International =
{{updated|match played 25 March 2025}}{{NFT|69292}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="6"|Cameroon
|2017 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 39 | 1 |
Personal life
Honours
Seattle Sounders
- MLS Cup: 2019{{cite news |title=Seattle Sounders are 2019 MLS Cup champions: Rave Green win second MLS title |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/11/10/seattle-sounders-are-2019-mls-cup-champions-rave-green-win-second-mls-title |publisher=Major League Soccer |date=10 November 2019 |access-date=10 November 2019}}
- CONCACAF Champions League: 2022
Cameroon
- Africa Cup of Nations bronze: 2021{{Cite web|last=AfricaNews|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|language=en}}
Individual
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{MLS player|nouhou-tolo}}
{{Seattle Sounders FC squad}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Cameroon squads
| bg = #007A5E
| fg = #FCD116
| bordercolor = #D01124
| list1 =
{{Cameroon squad 2021 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Cameroon squad 2022 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Cameroon squad 2023 Africa Cup of Nations}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tolo, Nouhou}}
Category:Footballers from Douala
Category:Cameroonian men's footballers
Category:21st-century Cameroonian sportsmen
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Cameroon men's international footballers
Category:Cameroon men's youth international footballers
Category:2021 Africa Cup of Nations players
Category:2022 FIFA World Cup players
Category:2023 Africa Cup of Nations players
Category:Rainbow FC (Cameroon) players
Category:USL Championship players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:Tacoma Defiance players
Category:Seattle Sounders FC players
Category:Cameroonian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States