It took 11 years but, finally, the record set by Samuel Eto’o was crumbling.
And it was Jean-Pierre Nsame, the striker linked by TEAMtalk with Celtic, West Ham and Newcastle United, who scrubbed his compatriot’s name out of Cameroon’s history books.
Firing BSC Young Boys to the 2019/20 Swiss League title with 32 goals in 32 games, Nsame became the first Cameroonian footballer since his legendary compatriot in 2008/09 to break the 30-goal barrier in a single campaign.
In all competitions, his remarkable tally stood at 41.
Nsame’s record-shattering feat may have come against the likes of Lugano, Luzern and Thun rather than Real Madrid, Valencia and Atletico.
But the fact remains – no Cameroonian footballer has scored more goals in a season than the Young Boys talisman, and that includes Roger Milla, Vincent Aboubakar and Eto’o himself.
“I am not Mr Milla or Eto’o. I don’t like to be compared with such great strikers,” Nsame told Kick442 last year, having carved out a glittering reputation of his own in Bern.
“We are all different people and we have a different style of football.”
In the same interview Nsame admitted his physical, line-leading style – and 6ft 2in frame – could make him a perfect fit for Premier League football.
With Southampton, West Ham and Newcastle eyeing a summer bid for one of Europe’s most reliable number nines, Nsame may soon have the opportunity to back up those claims.
“I am still contracted to Young Boys, even if I want to play at an even higher level,” the £6 million-rated Nsame told Africa Foot United last week.
“(But) if there’s something for everyone, I will be open to a departure.”
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