François Omam-Biyik

François Omam-Biyik (born 21 May 1966) is a former Cameroonian football player who played as a forward and current assistant manager of Cameroon.

François Omam-Biyik
Personal information
Full name François Omam-Biyik
Date of birth (1966-05-21) 21 May 1966
Place of birth Sackbayene, Cameroon
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Cameroon (assistant)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1986–1987 Canon Yaoundé
1987–1990 Laval 81 (27)
1990–1991 Rennes 38 (14)
1991–1992 Cannes 35 (7)
1992 Marseille 1 (0)
1992–1994 Lens 53 (18)
1994–1997 América 75 (49)
1997 Atlético Yucatán 21 (10)
1997–1998 Sampdoria 6 (0)
1998–1999 Atlante[1] 0 (0)
1999 Puebla 17 (5)
1999–2000 Cháteauroux 3 (0)
National team
1986–1998 Cameroon 73 (26)
Teams managed
2005–2006 EGC Touvent Châteauroux
2007 Palmeros
2008 Real Colima
2009–2010 Saint-Christophe Châteauroux
2010–2011 EGC Touvent Châteauroux
2010–2011 Cameroon (assistant)
2013 Gomido
2013–2019 US Bitam
2019– Cameroon (assistant)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Omam-Biyik also has French nationality. He was one of the most important players of the Cameroonian national team in the nineties, playing at the three World Cups in 1990, 1994 and 1998.[2] He played 63 international matches in total.

Playing career

Club career

Omam-Biyik had success with different French clubs before moving to Marseille in the summer of 1992. He only played one match, and was transferred to Lens in October 1992.[3] After a few years he continued his career in Mexico with Club América and Puebla F.C.,[4] with short stops in European clubs towards the late nineties. Omam-Biyik retired after the 1999–2000 season.[5]

In 1987 and 1991 he finished third in a run for an African Footballer of the Year award.[5]

In 2003, he played in the Adecmac amateur soccer league in Mexico City with Club Deportivo Sahara, where he scored 10 goals in the season.

International career

Omam-Biyik's greatest moment came when he scored the downward header that gave Cameroon a historic 1–0 win over defending world champions Argentina in the San Siro in the opening match of the 1990 World Cup.[5][6][7] He and his brother André helped Cameroon to the quarter-finals.[8]

He also scored against Sweden in the first round of the 1994 World Cup.[9]

He was called up to 1998 World Cup, which was his third.[10]

Omam-Biyik scored a total of 26 goals in 73 appearances.[11] He is Cameroon's record World Cup player, with 11 matches in three tournaments.

Style of play

Omam-Biyik's aerial ability led to the term "Omam-Biyik" being used as a nickname for a headed goal.[5]

Managerial career

Following his retirement Omam-Biyik moved to Colima, Mexico, where he was the head coach of the city's Second Division professional soccer team.

Omam-Biyik was appointed assistant coach of the Indomitable Lions (Cameroon football team) for a two-year tenure, with Spaniard Javier Clemente as head coach.

Omam-Biyik became the head coach of Togolese side Gomido FC in May 2013.[12] He pledged to help rebuild the first team but worked with the club for just two months.

On 20 July 2013, Omam-Biyik was signed to coach Gabonese champions Union Sportive de Bitam, replacing his compatriot Thomas Libiih.[13]

At the end of September 2019, Omam-Biyik was appointed assistant manager under newly hired manager Toni Conceição for Cameroon.[14]

Personal life

He is the father of Emilio Omam-Biyik and cousin of Francis Eliezer Omam, both of whom are footballers. François' older brother, André,[8][15] and André's son, Jean-Armel,[16] are also footballers.

References
  1. François Omam-Biyik at FootballDatabase.eu
  2. François Omam – FIFA competition record
  3. François Omam-Biyik – French league stats at LFP (also available in French)
  4. François Omam Biyik – Liga MX stats at MedioTiempo.com (in Spanish)
  5. "Cameroon legend Omam-Biyik launches a book". African Football. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  6. Burnton, Simon (12 February 2014). "World Cup: 25 stunning moments … No1: Cameroon stun Argentina in 1990". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  7. Janofsky, Michael (9 June 1990). "On World Soccer Stage, a Stunning First Act". New York Times. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  8. "24". FIFA.com. 24 May 2005. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  9. "1994 FIFA World Cup USA ™ - Matches - Cameroon-Sweden". FIFA.com. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  10. Longmore, Andrew (10 June 1998). "Football: Cameroon seeking unity". The Independent. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  11. Mamrud, Roberto. "François Omam-Biyik - Goals in International Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  12. "Togo: Oman Biyik, New Coach of 'Gomido'". Télégramme228. AllAfrica.com. 4 May 2013.
  13. "Omam Biyik entraîneur de l'US Bitam" (in French). Starafrica.com. 2 August 2013. Archived from the original on 23 April 2014.
  14. Cameroun le nouveau selectionneur et ses adjoints ont officiellement signe, mondialsport.net, 6 October 2019
  15. Leme de Arruda, Marcelo. "World Cup Trivia - Fathers, Sons and Brothers, Uncles and Nephews". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  16. Kobo, Kingsley (4 January 2012). "Fifa clears Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik to play for Cameroon". Goal.com.
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