Ndong Micha believes that Yamal is inserting his mom’s nation firmly within the world highlight, saying it echoes Ansu Fati’s breakthrough at an early age, additionally at Barcelona, when individuals learnt about his household’s nation Guinea-Bissau.
“His performances – coupled with these within the Barca first crew – present that Equatorial Guinea has an awfully completely different manner of enjoying to most African nations,” argues Ndong Micha.
“Given his expertise, and his roots, we may in the future have extra gamers like Lamine right here.”
Yamal shouldn’t be the primary Spain-based participant with Equatoguinean roots to hit the headlines this yr, after Emilio Nsue shocked world observers when ending high scorer at this yr’s Africa Cup of Nations aged 34.
Far much less welcome world headlines adopted final month, when Fifa dominated that the striker had by no means been declared eligible to play for Equatorial Guinea, for whom he’s high scorer with 22 targets.
Nonetheless, his targets helped the “Nationwide Thunder” attain the ultimate 16. The nation of beneath two million individuals has reached the knock-out part in any respect 4 Afcons they’ve contested.
“We’ve got to proceed making ready effectively,” says Ndong Micha.
“The federal government will quickly spend money on soccer academies in order that we will unearth extra Lamines and Emilios in future. It’s ready to maintain investing because it has lately to proceed trying to find pure expertise from Equatorial Guinea, however significantly within the nation itself.
“Previous to my arrival, we had by no means certified for a Nations Cup on our personal deserves – solely as a number nation (twice) – however now we have now certified twice for Afcon outright (in 2021 and 2023).
“On a sporting degree, with Fifa, the Confederation of African Soccer, and our authorities we’re going to continue to grow football-wise in order that within the subsequent few years, Equatorial Guinea would be the mannequin of a small nation however a giant giant-killer.”
If Ndong Micha will get his manner and the tiny central African nation secures a historic first World Cup qualification, there may be even an opportunity that Yamal may face his mom’s nation on the most important stage in the future.
