Angu Lesley Ngwa Akonwi
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
Angers SCO showed grit and promise as they came from behind to hold AS Monaco to a 1–1 draw — but the story of the evening belonged to Djibirin Harouna, the young Cameroonian who made his Ligue 1 debut.
In a cagey first half of the French Ligue 1 Day 8 contest, both sides struggled to find rhythm. Monaco’s experience began to tell after the break, and they broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute, when Folarin Balogun found space inside the box to guide home a low finish beyond Yahia Fofana.
But Angers refused to give up. Their persistence paid off late, as Sidiki Chérif equalized in the 85th minute, turning in a cut-back from close range to send the home fans into raptures.
The result earned Angers a valuable point, but for one teenager, it was a night that marked the beginning of something much bigger.
Harouna’s Debut: A Glimpse of the Future
When Djibirin Harouna stepped onto the pitch in the 79th minute, replacing a tiring forward, the applause that greeted him was telling. The 18-year-old had only joined Angers less than a year ago from Dauphine Academy in Cameroon — and in just a few months, he had climbed from the reserves to the senior squad.
Though on the pitch for only a short spell, Harouna’s impact was immediate. He pressed energetically, showed composure under pressure, and demonstrated an instinct for finding space between Monaco’s defensive lines. His quick exchanges and confident touches suggested a player unfazed by the occasion.
Angers’ coaching staff have monitored his progress closely all season, impressed by his technical polish and maturity beyond his years. His debut — calm and purposeful — validated that faith.
Who is Djibirin Harouna?
Born in 2007 in northern Cameroon, Djibirin Harouna is part of a new wave of young Cameroonian footballers carving paths through European academies. A graduate of Dauphine Academy, a fast-rising football school known for its structured player development, Harouna has been described by French outlet Ouest-France as “explosive, disciplined, and intelligent in movement.”
He joined Angers SCO less than a year ago and quickly impressed in the club’s reserve side, earning promotion to the first team after a series of strong performances in the National 3 division.
A Cameroon U20 international, Harouna combines raw physical power with technical finesse. Coaches praise his ability to hold up play, time runs into the box, and link midfield with attack — attributes that align him with the modern forward archetype.
Those who’ve monitored him back in the days in Cameroon know he’s quiet off the pitch but fiercely competitive in training. “He’s got the mentality,” one academy staff member told local media earlier this month. “He learns quickly, listens, and wants to improve every single day.”
A Debut That Signals Promise
For Angers, the point against Monaco was a valuable one in their push for mid-table stability. But for Djibirin Harouna, it was something more — the first of what could be many steps at the highest level.
From the academy pitches of Douala to the roar of the Stade Raymond Kopa, the young Cameroonian has arrived — and if Saturday night was any indication, France’s top flight may soon have another African gem on its hands.
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