By Brian Mboh
Cameroonian international midfielder Frank Zambo Anguissa has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a distinguished career with the country’s senior national men’s team.
The Napoli midfielder, who earned 66 caps and scored 15 goals for the Indomitable Lions, shared the news in an emotional statement.
“I leave the national team with a great deal of emotion and pride,” he wrote.
Reflecting on his journey, Anguissa described wearing the Cameroon jersey as a “tremendous honor” and a source of immense pride. He extended his gratitude to the federation, coaches, teammates, and support staff, but reserved his deepest thanks for the Cameroonian people.
“Playing for the Cameroon national team is every Cameroonian child’s dream,” he said. “I am very happy and, above all, very grateful to have been able to realize it.”
Anguissa made his international debut on 24 March 2017, in a friendly 1–0 victory over Tunisia. He went on to represent Cameroon at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia, where he scored his first international goal in a 1–1 group-stage draw against Australia—a performance that also earned him the man-of-the-match award.
Between 2019 and 2022, Anguissa featured in two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and his first FIFA World Cup. He was named to Cameroon’s squad for the 2019 AFCON in Egypt and also took part in the 2021 tournament, where the hosts finished in third place.
At the end of 2022, newly appointed national team manager Rigobert Song called him up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Anguissa played in all three group-stage matches, though Cameroon failed to advance to the knockout rounds.
From 2023 onward, he earned his third Africa Cup of Nations selection and assumed the team captaincy. On 29 December 2023, he was included in Cameroon’s 27-man squad for the 2023 AFCON.
On the pitch, Anguissa’s style is defined by physical robustness, a commanding aerial presence, and a high duel-win rate. However, his progressive carrying statistics are notably lower, indicating that he prefers a game built on stability and distribution rather than frequent dribbling advances.
As he closes this significant chapter with the Indomitable Lions, Anguissa leaves behind a legacy of commitment, pride, and service to his country.
