By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

The Striking Eagles, the U.S. Embassy’s soccer team in Yaounde, have paid tribute to the outgoing US Ambassador to Cameroon, H.E Christopher John Lamora for his leadership and community spirit during his four-year tenure in Cameroon.

**Striking Eagles FC** (Photo Credit: Mainimo Etienne)

The emotional match at the Military Stadium pitted the Striking Eagles against the Yaounde II Council team, drawing a lively crowd of dance groups, council officials, embassy staff and well-wishers. Yaounde II Council won the fair-play contest 2-1, with Ambassador Lamora himself taking the field.

Speaking after the match, Ambassador Lamora thanked both teams, especially the Striking Eagles, for making soccer a cornerstone of embassy life.

**Ambassador Lamora in Action during a farewell match at the Yaounde Military Stadium** *(Photo Credit: Mainimo Etienne)*

“We were here at the Military Stadium in March of 2022, my first weekend in the country, and they welcomed me with a match,” he said. “They’re seeing me out now in 2026 with a match. In those four years, I can’t count the number of times we’ve played on this field, in Febé Village, at the American School, at the embassy or elsewhere — playing hard, playing fair, staying fit and building community. The Striking Eagles are an incredibly important part of our embassy community.”

Ambassador Lamora praised how the team embodied the embassy’s core values — Respect, Integrity, Community and Efficiency (RICE).

**Yaounde II Council FC** (Photo Credit: Mainimo Etienne)

“Every single day they come on the field, every single day they practice, they are showing respect. They are demonstrating integrity. They are making themselves part of the community, including with the teams they’re playing against. And they play as efficiently as they can to get the big wins,” he said. “I think that’s going to last long after I’m gone.”

On his part, Isa Adamu, president of the Striking Eagles, credited Lamora’s approachable leadership for inspiring these principles.

“These values allowed us to organize the football teams internally at the embassy,” Isa said. “We have four teams divided among all local and American employees. That means there is no distinction between an American and a local. It creates the spirit of collaboration and humility coming from the ambassador, who prefers to be called Christophe rather than ‘Ambassador.’”

**Ambassador Lamora giving kick off along Mayor Yannick Ayissi** *(Photo Credit: Mainimo Etienne)*

Isa added that these values have influenced families and local partners, which is why the team chose to play Yaounde II Council — to encourage them to adopt similar principles in their own workplaces.

In a tribute to Lamora, the Striking Eagles wrote: “As you step off the mound in Yaoundé, we thank you for your exceptional leadership and spirit. You’ve been more than a Chief of Mission; you’ve been our most vocal advocate and a cherished teammate. You understood that our mission is strongest when we play as a unified family. While we are sad to see our ‘Captain’ depart, we are grateful for every inning shared. We wish you nothing but home runs and ‘perfect games’ in your next season!”

**Ambassador Lamora, Mayor Yannick Ayissi and John G. Robinson, U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Yaoundé during the farewell match** *(Photo Credit: Mainimo Etienne)*

Yaounde II Council Mayor Yannick Martial Ayissi Eloundou called the match a symbol of lasting friendship. “This match is a very good memory,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to express the sincere and solidary friendship between the U.S. ambassador, United States and the Yaounde II Council.”

He noted that the embassy and council had shared both successes and challenges over four years, wishing Lamora success in his future assignments.

A career member of the Senior Foreign Service with nearly three decades of experience in Africa including Cameroon, Ambassador Lamora was nominated by President Joe Biden on April 19, 2021, as ambassador to Cameroon. The Senate confirmed him Dec. 18, 2021, and he was sworn in Feb. 11, 2022.

**Ambassador Lamora and Mayor Yannick Ayissi during the farewell match** *(Photo Credit: Mainimo Etienne)*

He served at the U.S. Consulate in Douala, as deputy chief of mission in Ghana (2018–2021), acting deputy assistant secretary of state for Central Africa and African Security Affairs, and chargé d’affaires ad interim in Equatorial Guinea.

His other postings include Greece, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, the Los Angeles Passport Agency and multiple roles in the Bureau of Consular Affairs in Washington among others.