Sensational comeback of Joseph N’Do

Arguably the best known foreign import into the League of Ireland, attacking midfielder Joseph N’Do was first discovered by then Cameroon manager Claude Le Roy shortly before the 1998 World Cup. N’Do was at that point plying his trade at Cameroonian Premier Division title holders Coton Sport Garoua. He played all three of Cameroon’s group games as they lost to the hosts France and drew with Chile and Austria on their way to finishing bottom of Group B. Notable in the Cameroon squad at this tournament was a 17 year old Samuel Eto’o playing in his first senior international tournament. N’Do continued with the national team to the 2000 African Cup of Nations where he came off the bench to make his only appearance of the tournament in the quarter-final victory over Algeria as the Indomitable Lions went on to win their 3rd title. He had made the move to Europe in the summer of 1998, signing for Swiss side Neuchâtel Xamax where he played one season before crossing the border west to France where spent 2 seasons with Racing Strasbourg, winning the 2001 Coupe de France, but unfortunately also getting relegated the very same season, N’Do did not stick around for a Ligue 2 campaign and headed to Asia to play the 2001 season in Saudi Arabia with Al-Khaleej, while in the Middle East he played in the 2002 African Cup of Nations, where he came on in the 3-0 group victory against Togo, as Cameroon went on to win their second ACON title in a row and 4th overall. He played 3 times in qualification for the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup but was an unused substitute in the tournament as Cameroon crashed out in the group stages. This would be his last contribution to the national team, in total he earned 22 caps, scoring 2 goals, with winners medals for 2 African Cup of Nations. After the 2002 World Cup N’Do was on trial at Coventry City and was on the verge of signing a contract but failed to gain a work permit which forced a move to China where he played one season with Chengdu Tiancheng , before embarking on his Irish odyssey. Joseph N’Do will undoubtedly go down as one of the League of Ireland’s greatest ever players, winning 4 league titles in over a decade of playing and bringing a touch of international class to the league. Now occupying coaching positions at Achill Rovers and the Mayo league representative side, N’Do will be undoubtedly be looking for a return to management at the top of the Irish game in the near future.