Enganamouit: The heart of the Cameroon women's attack

At 22 years, Gaelle Deborah Enganamouit is a recognizable figure in Women’s football in Cameroon.

On the books of Swedish side, Eskilstuna, the lanky player is the face of the ‘Les Lionnes’ attack at the ongoing TN Mobile 9th African Women Championship and has been terrorizing defender with her skill, pace and strength.

Just like every other footballer she told Cafonline.com “I started playing football at the age of five, playing with my brothers. Initially, my parents did not like the idea. For them, I had to go to school first and the rest later”.

For her, the world’s most popular sport was not only a men’s game backed by her irresistible passion for the sport.

“Football is my passion and it has helped in my development”, Enganamouit added.

Her attacking exploits has made her a darling amongst her teammates and even head coach Enow Ngachu has labeled her one of the precious jewels in his team, seeking to become the third side after Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea to lay their hands on the ‘Holy Grail’ of women’s football in Africa.

“She (Gaelle) is a player who listens, understands and can handle the most complicated of situations. This is a player I can count on as the others. Her size particularly poses many problems for opposing defenders.”

Deservingly adjudged the TN Mobile Woman of the Match in the day two clash against Algeria, where she scored both goals that ensured passage into the next round, the forward says the honour will spur her on to do more.

“I’m very proud of the award. I work a lot to be what I am. I want to go beyond my current performance.”

After her first goal, Enganamouit pulled out a paper from her stockings with the inscription ‘Essomba’ and flashed to the cameras, and said it her way of paying tribute to a bosom friend who passed away few weeks ago.

“I wanted to pay tribute to my longtime friend, Essomba. She was a great friend, who died two weeks ago. I wanted to make her happy wherever she was,” an emotional Enganamouit sounded.

The youngest of a family of nine children (seven boys and two girls), the striker has high ambitions for her career both at club and national level.

“At the moment, my objective is to win the African Women Championship with Cameroon and I’m very confident. I promised Cameroonians that we will do better than the last championship (finished third) and come home with the trophy” she concluded.

‘Les Lionnes’ have qualified for the semis but face perennial rivals Ghana in the final match of Group B on Saturday, 18 October 2014 at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek.

Profile
Date of birth: 9 June 1992 (Yaounde, Cameroon)
Club: Eskilstuna (Sweden)
Height: 1.71m
Position: Forward
Honours: All Africa Games gold medal in 2011 (Maputo, Mozambique)