Japhet N'Doram

Japhet N'Doram (; born 27 February 1966) is a Chadian former professional footballer who played as a striker.

His 14-year senior career was mainly spent with Nantes, which he represented in several capacities. He was nicknamed The Wizard.

Club career Born in N'Djamena, N'Doram begun his career with local Tourbillon FC, then spent three seasons in Cameroon with Tonnerre Yaoundé, one of the biggest clubs in Africa. In 1990 the 24-year-old signed for FC Nantes in France, scoring two goals in 19 games in his first season in Ligue 1; his first professional contract arrived as Argentine Jorge Burruchaga was recovering from injury and accepted to be given an amateur licence on behalf of his teammate.

N'Doram became something of a cult hero at Stade de la Beaujoire, scoring important goals as the club's 2000th in the top division, through a penalty against Lille OSC (1–0 win) or the second in a 3–2 home triumph against Juventus FC in the 1995–96 UEFA Champions League semi-finals (3–4 aggregate loss). In 1994–95, he netted 12 goals as Les Canaris won their seventh national championship – the first in 12 years – bettering to a career-best 21 in the 1996–97 campaign (second-best in the competition).

Aged 31, N'Doram left Nantes and signed for fellow league side AS Monaco FC, winning the 1997 Trophée des Champions, but retired at the end of the season following a persistent injury sustained during a match against his former team.

Personal life N'Doram holds Chadian and French nationalities. His son, Kévin, is also a footballer. He played for Monaco.

Career statistics

Honours Nantes Atlantique French Division 1: 1994–95

AS Monaco Trophée des Champions: 1997

Individual French Division 1 Foreign Player of the Year: 1994 1995 Ballon d'Or:nominated