Jean-Michel Ongagna
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jean-Michel Ongagna | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 11 July 1945 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Brazzaville, Congo, French Equatorial Africa | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 6 July 2021 (aged 75) | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Ouenzé, Brazzaville, Congo–Brazzaville | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Forward | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| Pergola de Cognac François | |||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 1963–1972 | Étoile du Congo | ||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1965–1972 | Congo–Brazzaville | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||
Jean-Michel Ongagna (11 July 1945 – 6 July 2021) was a Congolese footballer. Nicknamed "Excellent", he played as a forward for Étoile du Congo throughout the 1960s and the 1970s. He also represented his home country of Congo–Brazzaville, being a part of the winning squad for the 1972 African Cup of Nations.
Club career
Ongagna began his youth career by playing for Pergola de Cognac François in Poto-Poto within the Grande École there alongside other players such as Massembo Yako, Loumeto and Maloumbi.[1] He then spent his senior career playing for Étoile du Congo on a club level. He was a part of the winning squad for the 1968 Congo Ligue 1 as he was named the best Congolese footballer the year prior.[2] He was primarily characterized by the use of his left foot to score goals, serving as one of the main goalscorers for the club.[3]
International career
Ongagna was first called up to represent at the 1965 All-Africa Games where he won the gold medal at the football tournament held there.[4] He later played in the 1968 Africa Cup of Nations where the club ended up in the group stage.[5] He found far greater success upon the next Congolese qualification for the tournament through the 1972 Africa Cup of Nations as the club would win their only title in the tournament as of 2026.[6]
Personal life
Ongagna died on 6 July 2021 at Ouenzé, Brazzaville at his home by Makoua Street.[3]
References
- ^ "Congo-Brazzaville: Ces oubliés et ces méconnus de l'histoire congolaise - La Grande Ecole de Poto-Poto". All Africa (in French). 28 September 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Sportissimo : les meilleurs joueurs du football congolais de 1963 à 2002". Agence D'Information d'Afrique Centrale (in French). 5 October 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ a b Mariotti, Ouabari (6 July 2021). "Congo Brazzaville. Ongagna Excellent, l'Enfant de Ouenzé". Pages Afrik (in French). Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Le football malade". Agence D'Information d'Afrique Centrale (in French). 19 October 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Knight, Ken; Morrison, Neil (6 July 2016). "African Nations Cup 1968". RSSSF. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "GLOIRE AUX ANCIENS: Yaoundé 1972, on s'en souvient toujours!". La Semaine Africaine (in French). 12 March 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2025.