Kana-Biyik calls time on Cameroon career

by Staff Reporter

Monday Sep 23, 2019. 11:00

Defender Jean Armel Kana-Biyik has announced he has retired from international football just months after representing the Indomitable Lions at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt.

Kana-Biyik, 30, says he has taken the decision in order to give younger players a chance, and also to focus on his club career with Turkish top-flight side Gazisehir Gaziantep.

“After a long reflection, I’ve decided to bring an end to my international career,” Kana-Biyik said in a post on Instagram.

“I’m making way for younger players and I’ll focus on my club career. But I’m proud to have donned the prestigious Cameroon jersey with its rich history”.

Kana-Biyik’s father Andre played 42 times for Cameroon, while he is the nephew of national team legend Francois Omam-Biyik, who played at three World Cups and has recently been appointed assistant coach of Cameroon.

His father, Andre Kana-Biyik, a former defender, played 42 games for Cameroon while his uncle Francois Omam-Biyik played in three World Cups for Cameroon and was recently appointed deputy coach of the national team.

A former French junior international, Kana-Biyik made himself available for Cameroon in 2012 but after missing out on the World Cup in Brazil two years later, said he would no longer represent the team.

He later turned down call-ups to the Nations Cup finals in 2015 and 2017, but had a change of heart for the competition in Egypt this year. He made only six international appearances in all.