On 10 May, Myriam Maéva Nyadjou was left without a World Cup that had seemed within reach.
On 9 August, she qualified Cameroon for another one.
Between the two days, 91 days passed.
Nyadjou had scored twice in the first leg of the final African qualifying round for the Under-20 World Cup. Cameroon beat Tanzania 3-1 in Yaoundé and stood one step from Poland. Eight days later, they lost 2-0 in Zanzibar. The 3-3 aggregate sent the Tanzanians through on the away-goals rule.
The captain’s brace was not enough to reach Poland 2026.
Her next goal did take Cameroon to Brazil 2027.
A direct free kick against the champions
On Sunday, Nyadjou stood over the ball in the 20th minute of the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final. At the other end stood Chiamaka Nnadozie, Brighton’s goalkeeper, in front of Nigeria’s goal.
The Amazone FAP player struck the free kick from distance with a powerful shot. Nnadozie, caught out, could not get to the ball.
Cameroon protected the lead for the remaining 70 minutes and eliminated the reigning champions and record winners of the tournament 1-0. The result took the Indomitable Lionesses into the semi-finals and handed them one of Africa’s four direct places at the World Cup.
Cameroon will return in Brazil after missing the 2023 edition. It will be their third senior World Cup, after Canada 2015 and France 2019.
The goal that opened the door came from a player who could still have been trying to reach the Under-20 World Cup.
Under-20 captain and senior international
Nyadjou was born in Yaoundé on 14 October 2006. She was 19 when the qualifier against Tanzania began in May and will be 20 during the World Cup in Brazil.
Her age had not stopped her taking on responsibility. Hassan Balla, Cameroon’s under-20 coach, made her captain and explained before that qualifier that she could play anywhere across the defence and also in midfield, as a six or an eight.
By then she had already broken into the senior side.
She also still plays in Cameroon. Nyadjou belongs to Amazone FAP of Yaoundé and competes in the Guinness Super League, the country’s top women’s division. She did not need to move abroad to decide a quarter-final against a Nigeria squad drawn from some of the world’s leading leagues.
In May, FIFA presented her as one of the young players Cameroon were building their future around. The player herself explained that football had been her passion since the age of four and declared herself ready to link the Africa Cup of Nations with the Under-20 World Cup.
The second half of that plan disappeared in Zanzibar.
The first half ended up offering her an even bigger stage.
Two goals that looked like enough
The first leg against Tanzania had also started badly for Cameroon. Winfrida Gerald put the visitors ahead before Nyadjou equalised in the 36th minute. Christiane Kiki Meva completed the turnaround before half-time and the captain scored her second early in the second half.
The 3-1 looked a solid lead. Tanzania wiped it out with a 2-0 in the return leg and secured the first Under-20 World Cup qualification in their history.
Nyadjou will not be in Poland when the tournament kicks off on 5 September. By then she will still be playing out the consequences of another qualification.
Tonight, Cameroon face Morocco for a place in the Africa Cup of Nations final. The hosts remain unbeaten and have conceded just one goal in four matches. The Indomitable Lionesses arrive after knocking out the ten-time champions.
Whatever happens in the semi-final, Cameroon’s place in Brazil is already secure.
Three months ago, two Nyadjou goals were not enough for a youth World Cup. On Sunday she needed one to take a whole country to the senior one.
