| Nelson Onana | |
| Fullname: | Nelson Zacharie M. Onana Alima |
| Birth Date: | 2000 3, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Sweden |
| Position: | Forward |
| Currentclub: | Léopold |
| Youthclubs1: | Pingouin |
| Years1: | –2019 |
| Clubs1: | Pingouin |
| Years2: | 2019–2024 |
| Clubs2: | Braxgata |
| Years3: | 2024–present |
| Clubs3: | Léopold |
| Nationalyears1: | 2019–2021 |
| Nationalteam1: | Belgium U–21 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 9 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 2 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2019–present |
| Nationalteam2: | Belgium |
| Nationalcaps2: | 25 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 10 |
Nelson Zacharie M. Onana Alima (born 1 March 2000)[1] is a field hockey player who plays for Léopold and the Belgium national team.[2] [3]
Onana was born in Sweden to a Belgian mother and a Cameroonian father. In Sweden he played floorball, and when his family returned to Belgium he started playing field hockey.[4]
Onana started playing hockey at Pingouin, where he played until 2019 when he moved to Braxgata.[5] After five seasons in Boom, he moved to Brussels to play for Léopold.[6]
Onana has represented Belgium at both junior and senior levels.[7] [3]
In 2019 Onana made his debut for the Belgium U–21 team during an eight–nations tournament in Madrid, winning a bronze medal.[7]
He was a member of the junior team at the 2021 Men's FIH Junior World Cup in Bhubaneswar.[8]
Before making his junior debut, Onana earned his first senior cap in a 2019 test match against Russia. He went on to appear in the team once more that year.[7]
Onana didn't represent the national team again until 2022, when he appeared in season three of the FIH Pro League. He has since been named permanently in the national squad.[7] [2]
He won his first medals with the national team in 2023, taking home bronze at the EuroHockey Championship in Mönchengladbach, as well as season four of the FIH Pro League. Now he is a basis player in the belgian red lios.[9] [10]