French football superstar Kylian Mbappé said he his “honour” to visit Cameroon, his country of origin. The 24-year-old captain of the French national football team and striker for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), who was born in Paris to a Cameroonian father, met with Cameroon’s Prime Minister Joseph Ngute on Friday, accompanied by other officials.
“I’m so happy to be here,” he said, expressing his delight to how the people have shown him so much “love”.
This marks his first visit to Cameroon since his teenage years. During his trip, Mbappé has met various Cameroonian sports personalities, including MMA star Francis Ngannou, with whom he was seen sharing smiles.
“We’ve all been awaiting the moment and its finally here,” said a fan to the BBC’s.
“It’s a huge boost for Cameroon, not just for Cameroon but for the entire continent,” the fan continued. “Having him around shows that home is home – you have to come back to your home,” the fan added.
The talented athlete also played basketball alongside former Chicago Bulls star Joakim Noah at Noah’s court, capturing the attention of onlookers. Additionally, he engaged in a football match against the Cameroonian team Vent d’Etoudi FC, according to Reuters.
Mbappé is utilizing his trip to undertake humanitarian work on behalf of his foundation, which aims to assist young individuals in accomplishing their goals.
Cameroonian journalist Henry Tataw Ekambi informed BBC Newsday that one of the first activities Mbappé engaged in upon arrival was visiting a school that his foundation supports, catering to children with hearing and speech disabilities.
“We are striving for a promising future in Cameroon,” he stated, as quoted by Reuters.
Mbappé’s future with PSG, his current club, has been uncertain since he announced that he would not extend his contract beyond 2024. Having initially joined PSG on loan from Monaco in 2017 before a transfer worth 180 million euros, Mbappé has scored 212 goals in 260 games for the club.
Additionally, he played a crucial role in the French national team’s victory in the 2018 World Cup.
