March 17, 2026
Le 15 mars, c’était la journée internationale de lutte contre l’islamophobie. Une date qui n’a guère intéressé les médias,...
Finkape Roots, as a non-profit association dedicated to promoting gender equality through women’s football, highlights the portrait of women footballers in Africa for several fundamental reasons. First of all, football is an extremely popular sport in West Africa, but its participation by women often remains limited due to restrictive social norms and persistent gender stereotypes. By highlighting the journeys and successes of African women footballers, Finkape Roots aims to deconstruct these stereotypes and encourage greater participation of women in this field. This increased visibility not only helps strengthen young girls’ self-esteem, but also inspires them to become agents of change within their communities. Additionally, by celebrating the successes of female footballers, the association seeks to raise awareness of existing inequalities and promote a football culture that embraces diversity, fairness and inclusion for all.
F.R: Hello Ngassa Yolande, thank you for giving us this interview. To start, can you tell us a little about yourself?
Ngassa Yolande: Hello and thank you for this opportunity. My name is Ngassa Yolande, I live on campus 2 in Douala, precisely in Ange Raphaël. My parents are in Yaoundé, but I live with my aunt who is my guardian here. I started playing football when I was little with the boys in my neighborhood.
F.R: When did you understand that football could become more than a passion?
Ngassa Yolande: At the age of 12, people came to my father to suggest that I play football more seriously. From there, I understood that I could really make this sport a career for life.
F.R: Can you tell us about your journey in this sport so far?
Ngassa Yolande: I started playing at Fortuna, then I joined Authentique in the first division. I am right lateral and sometimes left lateral. My origins are from Western Cameroon, and I like to combine elegance and nobility in my playing.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
F.R: Apart from football, do you have any other activities?
Ngassa Yolande: No, I only devote myself to football.
F.R: What does your daily routine look like, especially the day before a match?
Ngassa Yolande: The day before the match, we train from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Then I rest until 2:00 p.m. before doing a 30-minute personal training session. I try to go to bed no later than 8:30 p.m. In the morning, I get up at 5:00 a.m. to pray, do a little cleaning around the house, then I focus on myself to prepare myself mentally.
F.R: Today you had a match and won 2-1. How do you feel after this victory?
Ngassa Yolande: I am very happy. Each victory is additional motivation for me and for the whole team.
F.R: Can you tell us about the financial conditions in your club?
Ngassa Yolande: I earn a salary of 229 Euro or 150,000 FCFA every three months, which is very little and not easy to manage. In addition to this, we receive a match bonus of 15 Euro or 10,000 FCFA. We only have one game per week, so about four games per month.
F.R: What are your biggest dreams as a footballer?
Ngassa Yolande: My dream is to play in a big club and why not one day become a Ballon d’Or like our illustrious stars. I am working hard to achieve this goal.
F.R: Any last words for young girls who want to get into football?
Ngassa Yolande: I would tell them to never give up, to believe in themselves and to work hard. Football is a demanding sport, but with determination, anything is possible.
F.R: Thank you very much, Ngassa Yolande, for this inspiring exchange. We wish you every success for the rest of your career!
Ngassa Yolande: Thank you!
Fogoum Fodjeu Guillaume Albert ( FA’A)
© Finkape Roots
Fogoum Fodjeu Guillaume Albert (FA’A)
Photo journalist – Visual Painter Artist
Senior graphic designer.
Graphic designer and visual painter for 15 years, I have made my way in the Cameroonian and international artistic scene, more than 14 years of experience also in the world of visual communication. Now a parallel photo journalist.
