Pierre Webó Explained

Pierre Webó
Full Name:Pierre Achille Webó Kouamo[1] [2]
Birth Date:20 January 1982
Birth Place:Bafoussam, Cameroon
Position:Striker
Currentclub:İstanbul Başakşehir (assistant)
Youthclubs1:Kouogat
Years1:1999–2000
Years2:2000–2002
Caps2:21
Goals2:15
Years3:2003–2007
Caps3:114
Goals3:20
Years4:2003
Clubs4:Leganés (loan)
Caps4:7
Goals4:0
Years5:2007–2011
Caps5:113
Goals5:27
Years6:2011–2013
Caps6:54
Goals6:24
Years7:2013–2015
Caps7:65
Goals7:24
Years8:2015–2017
Caps8:49
Goals8:15
Years9:2017–2018
Clubs9:Gazişehir
Caps9:24
Goals9:7
Years10:2018
Clubs10:Nacional
Caps10:2
Goals10:0
Totalcaps:449
Totalgoals:132
Nationalyears1:2003–2014
Nationalcaps1:58
Nationalgoals1:19
Manageryears1:2019–
Managerclubs1:İstanbul Başakşehir (assistant)

Pierre Achille Webó Kouamo (born 20 January 1982) is a Cameroonian football manager and former professional player who played as a striker. He is the assistant manager of Turkish club İstanbul Başakşehir.

He spent eight years of his career in La Liga, appearing in a combined 227 matches for Osasuna and Mallorca and scoring 47 goals (in Spain he also represented Leganés). He also competed professionally in Uruguay and Turkey.

A Cameroon international in the 2000s, Webó appeared with the country in two World Cups and as many Africa Cup of Nations.

Playing career

Club

Early years

Born in Bafoussam, West Region, Webó started his professional career in Uruguay, playing three years with Club Nacional de Football, winning two Primera División titles – although he only was an important first-team member in his third year – and becoming top scorer of the 2002 edition of the South American Cup.[3]

He moved to Europe in January 2003, signing with second division club CD Leganés, on the outskirts of Madrid, on loan from CA Osasuna.[4]

Osasuna

In the summer of 2003, Webó returned to Osasuna, for whom he scored six goals in his third season, being instrumental in the Navarrese side's fourth La Liga place and UEFA Champions League qualification, although they would ultimately be ousted by Hamburger SV prior to the group stage.

His 2006–07 pre-season was hampered after he was forced to undergo treatment for malaria,[5] but he went on to produce similar numbers in the league, adding two goals in nine games in the team's semi-final run in the UEFA Cup, including the match's only in a home tie against Rangers.[6]

Mallorca

Webó moved to RCD Mallorca in 2007, spending most of his first season on the sidelines with an injury.[7] He did manage five league goals.

After Dani Güiza's departure, Webó's importance increased, and he totalled 18 goals the following three seasons, netting six in 2009–10 as the Balearic Islands team finished fifth and qualified to the Europa League (later revoked).[8]

In the 2011 off-season, after scoring 11 goals in the campaign,[9] [10] with Mallorca narrowly avoiding relegation, Webó signed a three-year contract extension. In August, however, he asked to be relieved from his obligations for personal reasons,[11] and joined İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. in Turkey.

Turkey

On 11 September 2011, in the first round of the season, Webó scored on his official debut for his new club, a 2–0 home defeat of Galatasaray SK.[12] On 31 January 2013, he signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with fellow Süper Lig side Fenerbahçe SK for €3 million.[13] [14] Again he found the net in the first competitive match with his new team, but in a 1–2 home loss to Sivasspor.

On 7 March 2013, Webó scored the game's only goal in a win at FC Viktoria Plzeň in that season's Europa League round of 16 (2–1 on aggregate).[15] He added another the following round, through a penalty for the first in a 2–0 home victory over S.S. Lazio.[16]

Webó played in his first derby match against Galatasaray on 12 May 2013, scoring twice to secure a 2–1 win.[17] The game was marred by racist chants from Fenerbahçe fans, directed to opposing players Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Eboué.[18]

From 2015 to 2018, Webó continued to compete in the country, with Osmanlıspor[19] and Gazişehir Gaziantep FK (the latter club in the TFF First League).[20]

Return to Nacional

In September 2018, the 36-year-old Webó returned to Nacional de Montevideo after 16 years.[21] After only 59 minutes of play across two league appearances,[22] he left before the start of the 2019 season.[23]

International

An international since 2003, Webó's first highlight playing for the Cameroon national team was a hat-trick in his country's 3–2 win in Ivory Coast in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers,[24] but his team would not travel to Germany, precisely at the hands of that opponent.

Webó scored in a 1–3 friendly loss against Portugal on 1 June 2010,[25] and started in the first two games at that year's FIFA World Cup in South Africa (both ending in defeat), with the player not managing to find the net.[26] [27]

Webó was called up for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2006 and 2010,[28] as well as the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but did not score in any tournament;[29] however, at the latter continental tournament he set up both goals as a substitute in a draw with Tunisia that saw his team into the quarter-finals.[30] On 17 November 2013, he was among the scorers in a 4–1 playoff victory over the same opponents that took Cameroon to the World Cup in Brazil.[31]

Coaching career

After retiring, Webó joined İstanbul Başakşehir's coaching staff under Okan Buruk.[32] In a Champions League group stage fixture against Paris Saint-Germain F.C. on 8 December 2020, he accused he was the target of racism by Romanian fourth official Sebastian Colțescu. The latter had allegedly used a term (negru, meaning black in Romanian), similar to a taboo racial slur in some western European countries but without the racial connotations, when describing and pointing out Webó to the main referee of the match, Ovidiu Hațegan; the incident, which occurred in the first half, ultimately led to the match being postponed, while UEFA also opened an investigation on the matter.[33]

Personal life

Webó's cousin Geremi was a long-time international teammate for Cameroon.[34]

Career Statistics

Club

ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Nacional2000[35] Uruguayan Primera División201030
2001713020121
20022213642817
Total311494304318
Leganés (loan)2002-03Segunda División7070
Osasuna2003-04La Liga28433317
2004-0524640286
2005-063161020346
2006-0731452102468
Total1142013512213927
Mallorca2007-08La Liga155152
2008-0933560395
2009-1031610326
2010-113411213612
Total113279112228
İstanbul Başakşehir2011-12Süper Lig301310623715
2012-1318910199
Total482220625624
Fenerbahçe2012-13Süper Lig13731622210
2013-142591041103110
2014-1526795003512
Total6423136103108832
Osmanlıspor2015-16Süper Lig20610216
2016-1729920813910
Total491530816016
Gaziantep2017-18TFF First League24711258
Nacional 2018Uruguayan Primera División200020
Career Total45212841133910102542153

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[36]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Cameroon200310
200430
200576
200672
200742
200860
200973
2010104
201140
201220
201321
201461
Total5919

Scores and results list Cameroon goal tally first. The score column indicates the score after each Webó goal.

List of international goals scored by Pierre Webó
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon2-12-12006 FIFA World Cup qualification[37]
2Stade de l'Amitié, Cotonou, Benin2-04-12006 FIFA World Cup qualification[38]
3Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon 1-01-02006 FIFA World Cup qualification[39]
4Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast1-03-22006 FIFA World Cup qualification [40]
52-1
63-2
7Stade Robert Diochon, Le Petit-Quevilly, France1-11-1Friendly[41]
8Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon 2-03-02008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification[42]
9Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon1-03-12008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification[43]
102-1
11Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt, Austria1-02-0Friendly[44]
122-0
13Fez Stadium, Fez, Morocco1-02-02010 FIFA World Cup qualification[45]
14Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Kenya1-13-1Friendly[46]
15Complexo Desportivo da Covilhã, Covilhã, Portugal1-21-3Friendly[47]
16Partizan Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia1-03-4Friendly[48]
172-1
18Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon 1-04-12014 FIFA World Cup qualification[49]
19Kufstein Arena, Kufstein, Austria1-02-0Friendly[50]

Honours

Nacional

2001, 2002[51]

Osasuna

Fenerbahçe

2013–14[51]

2012–13[51]

2014[51] Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of players. FIFA. 7. 11 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20190404045541/http://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2014/pdf/fwc_2014_squadlists.pdf. 4 April 2019.
  2. News: Pierre Achille WEBÓ Kouamo. El Mundo. es. 20 March 2020.
  3. Web site: Goleadores de la Copa Sudamericana. South American Cup scorers. ESPN Deportes. es. 1 August 2010. 3 August 2011.
  4. News: Webó, ilusionado con su nuevo reto. Webó, hungry about his new challenge. Mundo Deportivo. Tamaral. S.. es. 30 January 2003. 15 December 2014.
  5. Web site: Fitness battle for Osasuna's Webo. UEFA. 21 July 2006. 21 April 2010.
  6. Web site: Osasuna 1–0 Rangers (agg 2–1). BBC Sport. Lindsay. Clive. 14 March 2007. 8 February 2013.
  7. Web site: Nations Cup agony for Webo. BBC Sport. 18 December 2007. 25 September 2009.
  8. News: El Mallorca, fuera de la Europe League. Mallorca, out of Europa League. El Mundo. es. 12 August 2010. 15 December 2014.
  9. News: Webó amenaza al Racing con su racha goleadora. Webó threatens Racing with his scoring streak. Diario AS. Forteza. Gabriel. es. 9 December 2010. 15 December 2014.
  10. Web site: Webó, a un gol de Magdaleno y Aduriz. Webó, one goal behind Magdaleno and Aduriz. Fútbol Balear. es. 4 March 2011. 15 December 2014.
  11. News: Webó: "Me voy por motivos familiares". Webó: "I leave for family reasons". Marca. es. 2 August 2011. 3 August 2011.
  12. Web site: Büyükşehir Belediyespor 2–0 Galatasaray. Turkish Football Federation. tr. 11 September 2011. 11 September 2011.
  13. Web site: Webo da Artık Bizimle. Webo is no longer with us. Fenerbahçe S.K. tr. 1 February 2013. 2 February 2013.
  14. Web site: Özel Durum Açıklaması (Genel). Disclosure of exception (general). KAP. tr. 1 February 2013. 2 February 2013.
  15. Web site: Advantage Fenerbahçe after Webó sinks Plzeň. UEFA. 7 March 2013. 7 March 2013.
  16. Web site: Forceful Fenerbahçe punish ten-man Lazio. UEFA. 4 April 2013. 5 April 2013.
  17. News: Fenerbahçe savors 2–1 derby win, arch-rivals Galatasaray savors league title. Hürriyet Daily News. 12 May 2013. 16 May 2013.
  18. Web site: Galatasaray: Didier Drogba questions racists who abused him. BBC Sport. 14 May 2013. 16 May 2013.
  19. News: Villarreal comparte grupo con un histórico, un novato y un equipo de segunda. Villarreal in same group as historic, rookie and second-tier team. La Vanguardia. es. 26 August 2016. 14 September 2018.
  20. News: Webó, el 9 de Twitter. Webó, the Twitter's 9. El Observador. Díaz. Juan José. es. 27 December 2017. 14 September 2018.
  21. Web site: Cameroon's Pierre Webo returns to Uruguay after 18 years. BBC Sport. Okeleji. Oluwashina. 12 September 2018. 13 September 2018.
  22. News: Con el bisturí a fondo. To the hilt. El Observador. es. 2 January 2019. 13 February 2019.
  23. Web site: Pierre Webo: "Nunca le reclamaría a Nacional". Pierre Webo: "I would never ask Nacional for anything". Sport 890. es. 10 January 2019. 13 February 2019.
  24. Web site: Cameroon in pole position. BBC Sport. 5 September 2005. 14 September 2018.
  25. Web site: Mundial2010: Portugal vence Camarões (3–1) na despedida da Covilhã. 2010World Cup: Portugal beat Cameroon (3–1) in farewell to Covilhã. Mais Futebol. pt. 1 June 2010. 14 September 2018.
  26. Web site: Japan 1–0 Cameroon. BBC Sport. Vesty. Marc. 14 June 2010. 8 February 2013.
  27. Web site: Cameroon 1–2 Denmark. BBC Sport. Fletcher. Paul. 19 June 2010. 8 February 2013.
  28. Web site: African Nations Cup 2010 – Final Tournament Details. Courtney. Barrie. RSSSF. 29 November 2020.
  29. Web site: Cameroon names Egypt squad. Eurosport. 18 September 2005. 9 December 2020.
  30. Web site: Cameroon and Zambia march on. Al Jazeera. 21 January 2010. 9 December 2020.
  31. Web site: Cameroon reach World Cup after beating Tunisia 4–1. France 24. 17 November 2013. 9 December 2020.
  32. Web site: Cameroon's Pierre Webo gets coaching role in Turkey. BBC Sport. Okeleji. Oluwashina. 27 November 2019. 27 November 2019.
  33. Web site: CL game postponed after players walk off over alleged racism. Associated Press. Pugmire. Jerome. 8 December 2020. 8 December 2020.
  34. News: Geremi Njitap: "Achille (Webo) est très choqué". Geremi Njitap: "Achille (Webó) is really shocked". L'Équipe. fr. 9 December 2020. 10 December 2020.
  35. Web site: PIERRE WEBÓ. Club Nacional de Football. 21 May 2024.
  36. Web site: Pierre Webó. National-Football-Teams. 21 May 2024.
  37. Web site: Cameroon vs. Sudan. National-Football-Teams. 21 May 2024.
  38. Web site: Benin vs. Cameroon . National-Football-Teams. 21 May 2024.
  39. Web site: Cameroon vs. Libya . National-Football-Teams. 21 May 2024.
  40. Web site: Ivory Coast vs. Cameroon. National-Football-Teams. 21 May 2024.
  41. Web site: Cameroon vs. Guinea. National-Football-Teams. 21 May 2024.
  42. Web site: Cameroon vs. Equatorial Guinea. National-Football-Teams. 21 May 2024.
  43. Web site: Cameroon vs. Liberia. National-Football-Teams. 21 May 2024.
  44. Web site: Austria vs. Cameroon. National-Football-Teams. 21 May 2024.
  45. Web site: Morocco vs. Cameroon . National-Football-Teams. 21 May 2024.
  46. Web site: Kenya vs. Cameroon . National-Football-Teams. 21 May 2024.
  47. Web site: Portugal vs. Cameroon. National-Football-Teams. 21 May 2024.
  48. Web site: Serbia vs. Cameroon. National-Football-Teams. 21 May 2024.
  49. Web site: Cameroon vs. Tunisia. National-Football-Teams. 21 May 2024.
  50. Web site: Macedonia vs. Cameroon. National-Football-Teams. 21 May 2024.
  51. Web site: P. Webó – Trophies. Soccerway. 9 June 2017.