‘Lion un jour, Lion pour toujours’: Ondoa marks Zambo Anguissa’s Cameroon farewell

Fabrice Ondoa has paid an emotional tribute to Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa after the midfielder’s decision to retire from international football for Cameroon prompted a wave of reaction.

Ondoa, who played alongside Zambo Anguissa for the Indomitable Lions, praised his former team-mate for the commitment and sincerity he had shown whenever he represented the national side.

In a message addressed directly to the midfielder, the Cameroon goalkeeper thanked him for the memories and the battles they shared on the pitch.

“Thank you, my brother, for all the emotions and especially for all the battles fought on the field. You, who never cheated and always gave everything without ever holding anything back,” Ondoa wrote.

The tribute focused not only on Zambo Anguissa’s performances as a player, but also on the qualities Ondoa believes made him an important figure within the Cameroon dressing room.

Ondoa described the former international as “a natural leader, a man you can trust, a man of principles and values”.

His words reflected the significance of the relationship between the two players and the impact of Zambo Anguissa’s international career on those who shared the Cameroon shirt with him.

Ondoa also highlighted the midfielder’s attachment to the national team, pointing to the emotion he displayed while representing the country.

“You, who are not so emotional, seeing you shed tears for this shirt was one of the most beautiful moments I have experienced,” he added.

The goalkeeper ended his message with a phrase that underlined the lasting bond between Zambo Anguissa and Cameroon’s national team: “A Lion one day, a Lion forever.”

Zambo Anguissa’s international retirement has continued to generate strong reactions in Cameroon, with Ondoa’s message offering a personal account of the midfielder’s contribution and character.

Rather than limiting his tribute to the player’s work on the pitch, Ondoa presented Zambo Anguissa as someone whose influence extended to the wider team. His comments emphasised determination, selflessness and leadership, as well as the emotional connection the midfielder maintained with the national shirt.

For Ondoa, the tears shed by a player he described as not particularly emotional captured the importance of representing Cameroon. That moment, he said, ranked among the most memorable experiences he had shared with Zambo Anguissa.

The message brought together the main themes of Ondoa’s tribute: gratitude for their time as team-mates, respect for the midfielder’s efforts, admiration for his principles and recognition of his enduring connection with the Indomitable Lions.

Although Zambo Anguissa has ended his international career, Ondoa’s closing words suggested that retirement will not alter his status within Cameroon’s football family. In the goalkeeper’s view, the midfielder’s association with the national team will remain permanent: once a Lion, always a Lion.