NJOYA SHARES HER FOND MEMORIES DURING THE TOTOALENERGIES WAFCON DRAW IN RABAT

“WAFCON is a trophy that we have always coveted, and that Cameroonians are waiting for.” 

A few hours before the draw, it is an enthusiastic Ajara Njoya that CAFOnline.com team meet in Rabat, Morocco. The one who saw her goal nominated for the 2019 FIFA Puskas Award is considered one of the most talented African players of her generation. The 29-year-old player joined the Moroccan capital, for the ceremony which will reveal tonight the groups of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2022.

The Cameroonian striker who moves crowds and triggers pitch invasions in her home country knows she is very lucky to be practicing her dream job, and she is delighted to enchant the public.

In this interview, Ajara Njoya looks back on her career and presents her highlights.

CAFOnline.com: Tell us about your professional career which led you from Njisse to Milan?

Ajara Njoya: From Njisse in 2010 to Milan in 2022, it’s been many years. Football has been my passion since a young age. I started when I was 4 years old. I played with my cousins ​​or neighbors, since at that time there were no girls nearby to play with. It was usually in my parents’ backyard.

At the age of 15, I started to play in the national championships in Cameroon. It should be remembered that during the long school holidays, there was the Brasseries football school which organized the youth tournaments. I was playing with the boys.

In 2008, I left Njissé for Douala during the holidays. I was supposed to join my grandparents and that’s when I started playing with women.

When did things change?

I met a gentleman in the neighborhood who told me he could take me where I could only play with women. I went there for the first time and it was a great experience. Since that day, I haven’t stopped playing with women.

I joined the under 17 national team in 2008. In 2010, I received a call up from coach Enow Gachu to participate in my first Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. But unfortunately, I did not play. But it was a real pleasure for me to be part of the team, a good experience.

In 2010, I traveled for the first time to Russia where I started my professional career. I spent three years there at FC Energia and Rossiyanka. Then I went to New York Flash in the United States, then I returned to Cameroon where I played a season with AS Police, a police team that no longer exists. Subsequently, I joined Sweden where I played for two seasons at Sundsvall in the 2nd division, then Norway where I played at Sandviken for one season and at Valerenga for two seasons. I went to Spain where I played with Atlético de Madrid for 8 to 9 months. And finally, last year, I joined Inter from Milan where things are going pretty well today.

What are your fondest memories of your two participations in the FIFA Women’s World Cup?

The first time I participated in a major competition was in 2012 at the Olympic Games. For us, qualifying was a source of pride because it was new.

Then the 2015 World Cup in Canada where we qualified for the first time in finals. We went through the first round. At the time, Cameroonians were not used to seeing us in this kind of competition. It was always men. It was really a surprise for them. Since that day, they have adopted us. We made Cameroonians dream. In 2019, in France, they expected us to do better. We really had the support of the whole public and they wanted to see us go as far as possible, like in 2015.

Speaking of your adventure in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, what does it mean to you to be the author of the 2 most important goals of the Indomitable Lionesses in this competition?

It’s always nice to be the author of certain good situations like the 2 goals I scored to get us through the first round. I always make the effort when I enter a stadium, to have fun. Individual rewards can happen, but at the start, we always think of the collective because it is the most important. We knew that the Cameroonians were waiting for us. That’s why we wet the jersey until the last minute. In the end, we got our ticket for the second round.

The TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations will kick off in 2 months, are you ready and happy to defend the colors of Cameroon once again? What would it mean for you to win this tournament?

It’s a trophy we’ve been coveting for years. For me specially, it will be the 5th time that I will participate in a Women’s AFCON. I know that Cameroonians are waiting for this trophy. It’s true, it’s not easy because there are many great nations that are there too.

You should know that with the WAFCON, four countries will qualify for the World Cup and two will play in the play-offs. It’s beautiful and I think that with these opportunities, many parents will encourage their children. They must try to accept their children dream of being a footballer. And why not accompany her in her dream and make her feel comfortable? It’s a job like any other. You just have to accompany the children and encourage them, make them understand that through football, they can become accomplished women.

As the torchbearer of African women’s football, you inspire a whole generation of young footballers…

I am still in full activity, and it is true that I represent a whole generation. For me, it is an honor to hold this rank today. I would like parents to accompany children in their dream, because many lack this type of support. When a parent motivates the child, it gives her even more desire to evolve. At the start, it was not easy for us. If we hadn’t dreamed big to be here today, we would never be at this level. So, when I’m on the international stage, I try to represent Africa well because I know that a lot of young children want to be like me, like us. I’m not the only one, many of us play at a high level. So, it is a pleasure for me to be here today and to represent Cameroon.