Emmanuel Kundé

Emmanuel Jérôme Kundé (15 July 1956 – 16 May 2025) 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. Known for his towering presence and exceptional defensive skills, Kundé played a pivotal role in guiding Cameroon to the quarter-finals, making them the first African team to reach such heights in World Cup history. His composure on the ball and ability to read the game were evident as he commanded the backline with grit and determination. Throughout the tournament, Kundé's leadership and stamina were crucial, clocking in invaluable minutes and helping to cement Cameroon's status on the global football stage. Remembered particularly for his incredible penalty-kick against England, just before halftime, Kundé's contributions remain etched in the memories of football fans worldwide. Kundé is considered to be one of Africa's greatest defenders of all time.

Club career
Kundé began his career at Canon Yaoundé. With this club, he became the champion of Cameroon three times and won the Cameroon Cup. He also reached the final of the CAF Cup Winners' Cup in 1984 (losing on penalties to Egyptian club Al-Ahly).

In 1987, Emmanuel Künde went to Europe, moving to the French club Laval. For the new team, he played 14 matches in the French championship. The following season, he joined Reims, a team playing in Ligue 2. He made 32 league appearances for the club, scoring 3 goals.

Emmanuel Künde then returned to his native country. He played one season for Prévojans Yaoundé before moving to Olympique Mwole, where he ended his career.

International career
Emmanuel Kundé has participated in numerous international tournaments with the Cameroon national team.

He first played at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, which was held in Spain. Cameroon did not pass the first round. Emmanuel Kundé played in all 3 games of this championship: against Peru, Poland and finally Italy.

He then took part in the 1984 African Cup of Nations, which was held in Côte d'Ivoire. Cameroon won the tournament by defeating Nigeria 3–1 in the final. In the final, Emmanuel Kundé came on in the 84th minute of the game, replacing Bonaventure Djonkep.

He also competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. During this tournament, he played in matches against the national teams of Iraq and Canada. Cameroon left the tournament in the group stage.

Emmanuel Kundé then participated in the 1986 African Cup of Nations, which was held in Egypt. Cameroon became the finalist, but lost to the hosts on penalties in the final match. Künde himself converted his shot in the penalty shootout.

Cameroon did not qualify for the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Künde also participated in the 1988 African Cup of Nations in Morocco. Cameroon again reached the final of the tournament. In the final, Emmanuel converted a penalty awarded against Nigeria in the 55th minute, bringing the team the second ever victory in the tournament with a score of 1:0.

Kundé again went to the African Cup of Nations, held in Algeria in 1990. This time it was a real failure: Cameroon did not even pass the group stage. A few months later, Emmanuel went to the 1990 FIFA World Cup, held in Italy. Cameroon reached the quarterfinals stage, setting a new African record. On the way to this, Cameroon took first place in Group B, defeating the national teams of Argentina and Romania, defeated the Colombian national team in the 1/8 finals, but lost in extra time to the England national team with a score of 2:3. In this meeting, Emmanuel Künde converted the penalty awarded to the English, equalizing the score in the match. At the tournament itself, he played in four out of five matches.

The last international tournament in which Künde played was the 1992 African Cup of Nations, held in Senegal. This was the fifth African Cup of Nations in which Künde took part. For the first time, 12 teams began to participate in the tournament instead of the previous 8. Cameroon reached the semi-finals, losing on penalties to Côte d'Ivoire, the eventual winners of the cup.

Managerial career
After the end of his career, Emmanuel Künde began his coaching career. He spent the first two seasons at his first club, Canon Yaoundé. He managed to save the club from relegation and even bring it to international competitions.

He then became the coach of the Gabonese club Bitam in 1999. He won his team's first Gabon Cup. In 2000, his contract was not renewed. He then returned to Cameroon and began coaching PVD Bamenda, a club from the second division of Cameroon. Under his leadership, the team qualified for the Cameroonian championship.

Then Emmanuel Künde returned to Bitham. The club was in crisis, having changed three coaches in a year. With Bitham, Emmanuel won the double: Cup and Championship in 2003, a first for the club. He participated in the selection of the CAF Champions League, which also happened for the first time. In 2005, Bitam became the vice-champion of Gabon and the following year participated in the UNIFFAC Cup.

In 2006, Künde became the technical director of the Gabonese club. During this time, the Gabonese team made a new golden double: the Cup and Championship in 2010, and also reached the play-off round of the CAF Champions League in 2011.

Death
Kundé died from a cardiac arrest on 16 May 2025, at the age of 68.Emmanuel Kundé Dies Aged 68: Cameroon Legend and Two-Time AFCON Winner Remembered

Honours
Player
Yaoundé Canyon
Cameroon Championship: 1982, 1985, 1986
Cameroon Cup: 1983

Prévoyance Yaoundé
Cameroon Cup: 1990

Olympic Mvolyé
Cameroon Cup: 1992

Coach
Coupe du Gabon Interclubs: 1999, 2003

Cameroon
African Cup of Nations: 1984, 1988; runner-up, 1986
Afro-Asian Cup of Nations: 1985

References

Category:1956 births
Category:2025 deaths
Category:Association football defenders
Category:Cameroonian footballers
Category:Olympians for Cameroon
Category:1982 FIFA World Cup players
Category:1990 FIFA World Cup players