33·Legends

Joseph-Antoine Bell vs Thomas N'Kono

Cameroon against Cameroon. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.

JB

Joseph-Antoine Bell

Cameroon · 1984–90 · GK

Almanac rating
88
Rank in Cameroon
#4 of 33
Caps
50 · 0 goals
Clubs
Olympique de Marseille, FC Girondins de Bordeaux, AS Saint-Étienne

Hours before Cameroon met Argentina in Milan on 8 June 1990, he was dropped for telling the press what he thought of the squad's preparation, and watched the 1-0 win over the holders from the bench. Two Africa Cup of Nations titles, in 1984 and 1988, best goalkeeper of that 1988 tournament, and the IFFHS African goalkeeper of the century award after nine seasons in France with Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulon and Saint-Étienne. Career record: 50 caps and 0 goals for Cameroon; club career at Olympique de Marseille, FC Girondins de Bordeaux, AS Saint-Étienne.

vs
TN

Thomas N'Kono

Cameroon · 1979–88 · GK

Almanac rating
89
Rank in Cameroon
#3 of 33
Caps
112 · 0 goals
Clubs
RCD Espanyol de Barcelona, Centre d'Esports Sabadell Futbol Club, Club Bolívar

Gianluigi Buffon watched him at Italia 90, decided to become a goalkeeper, and later named his first son Louis Thomas after the Cameroonian. He kept clean sheets against Peru and Poland in 1982 as Cameroon went out unbeaten on goals scored, won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1984, took African Footballer of the Year in 1979 and 1982, and reached the 1988 UEFA Cup final with Espanyol. Career record: 112 caps and 0 goals for Cameroon; club career at RCD Espanyol de Barcelona, Centre d'Esports Sabadell Futbol Club, Club Bolívar.

The verdict

The almanac puts Thomas N'Kono ahead by 1 rating point, 89 against 88.

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