Switzerland striker Breel Embolo was full of emotion after his winning goal against Cameroon, for a variety of reasons.
Scoring any goal at a World Cup is a milestone but for Embolo, Thursday’s strike in the 48th minute of an eventual 1-0 win went much deeper.
Embolo was born in Cameroon’s capital Yaoundé and moved to France at age five, before settling in Switzerland shortly afterwards. The Monaco striker has referred to himself as Cameroon’s biggest fan.
Prior to the game, Embolo spoke about how special the occasion would be.
“It’s very special. It’s my hometown and my mum and my dad come from there, my family, most of them come from there, so it’s a special game for me and my family,” Embolo said.
But once the game started the forward had a job to do, and he did it well.
Embolo got on the end of a Xherdan Shaqiri cross and powered home a finish from close range, before raising his arms in a muted, if not apologetic celebration.
“I told him, ‘Breel, friendship until the start, then they are your opponents,'” said Switzerland coach Murat Yakin after the game. “Football writes such stories but he completed his mission.”
Watch Embolo’s goal vs. Cameroon
Breel Embolo puts Switzerland on top and decides not to celebrate his goal against Cameroon, his birth country 🙌 pic.twitter.com/7amWCNa9kD
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 24, 2022
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