Japhet N’Doram’s biography, fact, career, awards, net worth and life story

Japhet N’Doram (born 27 February 1966) is a Chadian retired 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 Sub-Saharan 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 F.C. 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. He then joined his last club’s technical staff, working as a scout.

N’Doram returned to Nantes on 28 June 2005, replacing Robert Budzynski as director of football. In February 2007 he was appointed team manager, leaving his post in July as the season ended in relegation.

Personal life

N’Doram’s son, Kévin, is also a footballer. He too represented Monaco.

Club statistics