David Ngog, the former Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool striker, has revealed his reasons for never representing Cameroon at the international level, despite interest from the Indomitable Lions.
The 35-year-old, who retired in 2020, spoke candidly about the situation in an exclusive interview .
Ngog, born in France to a Cameroonian father, was long seen as a potential addition to Cameroon’s national squad.
In 2013, then-coach Jean-Paul Akono announced that the forward was set to join the team.
However, the call-up never materialized, leaving many to wonder why he never donned the national colors.
Missed opportunity
Speaking on the issue, Ngog admitted that while he had discussions with the Cameroonian football authorities, he ultimately decided against making the switch.
“It was for personal reasons. I spoke with the coach, we met, and I agreed to wear the Indomitable Lions jersey. Unfortunately, I never left,” he explained.
Asked to elaborate, Ngog cited concerns over instability within the national setup at the time.
“I didn’t feel like embarking on an adventure where things weren’t clear. There were a lot of internal conflicts, and I decided to stay at my club to stabilize my situation. It was a possibility, yes, but it didn’t happen.”
Regrets over unfulfilled dream
Despite his decision at the time, the former striker now acknowledges that missing out on playing for Cameroon remains a regret.
“I think that today I would have liked to have been selected for Cameroon, my country. It would have been a great source of pride for me to wear the national jersey. It’s a regret, yes, even if today I don’t live with regrets.”
Ngog’s career saw him feature for several clubs across Europe, beginning with Paris Saint-Germain before making a move to Liverpool in 2008.
He played three seasons at Anfield, scoring 19 goals, before spells at Bolton Wanderers, Swansea City, Reims, Panionios, Ross County, Budapest Honvéd, and FK Žalgiris.
While his time in club football spanned multiple countries and leagues, the absence of international appearances remains a notable omission in his career.
His reflections on the matter highlight the complexities that dual-national players often face when choosing their international allegiances.
David Ngog’s career in brief:
- Paris Saint-Germain (2006-2008): 25 matches, 3 goals
- Liverpool (2008-2011): 93 matches, 19 goals
- Bolton Wanderers (2011-2014): 91 matches, 16 goals
- Swansea City (2014): 3 matches, 0 goals
- Reims (2014-2016): 48 matches, 10 goals
- Panionios (2016-2017): 16 matches, 3 goals
- Ross County (2018): 10 matches, 1 goal
- Budapest Honvéd (2018-2020): 41 matches, 15 goals
- FK Žalgiris (2020): 3 matches, 0 goals
Though his international career never took off, Ngog’s journey through club football remains an intriguing story of perseverance, adaptation, and unfulfilled potential on the global stage.
