Photo: Elemaki / CC BY 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Thomas N'Kono is one of those figures I feel deserves far more global recognition than he gets. Widely regarded as among the finest goalkeepers Africa has produced, he anchored Espanyol for nearly a decade and represented Cameroon across three World Cups. What moves me most is his legacy beyond the pitch: a young Gianluigi Buffon idolised him so deeply that he named his son Thomas. To inspire a future legend is its own kind of greatness. N'Kono pushed open doors for African players at a time when the world underestimated them, and I hold genuine, lasting respect for what he built.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Thomas N'Kono
- Name (Japanese)
- トーマス・ヌコノ
- Reading
- とーます・ぬこの
- Born
- July 20, 1955 (age 70)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Cancer / Goat
- Origin
- Dizangué, Littoral, Cameroon
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- 183 cm
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- association football player / association football coach
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Thomas N'Kono born?
Born July 20, 1955 (age 70).
Where is Thomas N'Kono from?
Thomas N'Kono is from Dizangué, Littoral, Cameroon.
What does Thomas N'Kono do?
Thomas N'Kono works as association football player, association football coach.
How tall is Thomas N'Kono?
Thomas N'Kono is 183 cm.
Association football player — see all → · Association football coach — see all → · More people from Cameroon →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.