Playing for Cameroon on the international stage is an honour, but Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene has taken that distinction to a historic level by appearing at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for an unprecedented eighth time.
The 37-year-old forward added another landmark to her African football career as the Indomitable Lionesses defeated Mali 2-1 in a closely fought match at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
At Casablanca’s Larbi Zaouli Stadium on Wednesday night, Onguene began her preparations on the touchline in the 87th minute, completing a series of short sprints while waiting for fourth official Akhona Makalima to approve the substitution. Once introduced, she immediately made her presence felt.
Her teammates, both on the field and among the substitutes, encouraged her as Cameroon searched for a decisive third goal. Operating down the left flank, Onguene unsettled Mali during the closing stages and came close to creating a scoring opportunity, only for the Malian defence to react quickly and clear the danger.
“Being here and playing the sport I love is a great honour. Football has given me so much, and representing Cameroon has fulfilled a dream I have carried for many years,” Onguene said afterwards, smiling broadly.
Since making her WAFCON debut in 2008, the forward has established herself across Africa as a dependable finisher, a leader in the dressing room and on the pitch, and a role model whose influence extends well beyond Cameroon.
She has credited her longevity to the habits she has maintained throughout her professional career. “Discipline guides everything I do. I look after my body, eat properly and make sure I get enough rest. Those details matter greatly in professional football,” she said.
Onguene was identified as a promising teenager, and her natural skill was clear from the outset. She played with flair, determination and an ambition to reach football’s biggest stages, believing that sustained effort would eventually take her there.
“It has been a long road since 2008. I still think about that first chance, when I played only a few minutes, and I remain thankful for it. From there, I worked hard to become consistent and earn a regular place with the national team,” the determined attacker said.
With a wide smile, she also spoke proudly of her roots. “I come from Douala. That city has produced so many stars, and I am very proud to call such a beautiful place home.”
Among the celebrated footballers associated with Douala are Samuel Eto’o, Patrick Mboma, Alex Song, Carlos Baleba and Carlos Kameni. Onguene, however, insists that personal fame has never been her driving force. Her motivation is the childhood ambition of playing football, a passion that has taken her around the world while allowing her to do what she loves most.
Her career has included helping Cameroon claim gold at the 2011 All Africa Games in Mozambique and representing the country at the London 2012 Olympics, where she scored Cameroon’s only goal of the tournament. Those experiences carried her across continents and demonstrated the reach and influence of the game.
In 2015, she became part of the Cameroon side that made history at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada. The team advanced to the Round of 16 at its first appearance in the competition, while Onguene’s goal in the 2-1 victory over Switzerland secured her a lasting place in the tournament’s story.
When Cameroon hosted WAFCON in 2016, Onguene was at the peak of her career. Although Nigeria won the final 1-0, she was awarded the tournament’s Best Player prize. Three years later, she appeared at her second FIFA Women’s World Cup and scored against the Netherlands.
A three-time Cameroon top-flight champion with Louves Minproff, Onguene later moved to Russia to play for Rossiyanka before joining CSKA Moscow. She has continued to excel in Europe while remaining a key figure for her country.
Her advice to the next generation is rooted in the principles that have sustained her own career. “I would tell young girls above all to work hard and remain consistent. Discipline is essential, and I often remind my national-team and club teammates that these qualities can carry us a long way in football,” she said.
