Stéphane Keller says representing Cameroon national football team for the first time is both a proud milestone and motivation for greater achievements, as the 24-year-old reflects on his journey and ambitions in the game.
The central defender, currently on loan at Al-Ittihad from AEL Limassol, earned his maiden senior call-up to the Indomitable Lions in March for a series of friendly matches.
For Keller, the moment marked a significant step in a career shaped by steady progression and resilience.
“When I heard the news, I was very happy and moved to have been selected to represent Cameroon,” he said, describing the call-up as “a source of pride and also a reward for hard work.”
His introduction to the national team setup was equally memorable. Keller spoke of a welcoming environment that helped ease his transition into the senior squad.
“It was very warm, the staff and teammates were really very pleasant,” he explained, before adding with humour, “except for the hazing, they know what I’m talking about “.
The presence of familiar faces also played a key role in his adaptation. Having previously featured for Cameroon’s under-23 side, Keller found it easy to reconnect with teammates.
“It was easy since we already knew each other from the U23 national team; I talk to many of them outside of football,” he said, while also highlighting emerging talent within the squad. “My good boy Nagida Aboubakar, he has great potential.”
Keller’s journey to this point reflects the challenges faced by many African players pursuing careers abroad.
Now playing in Saudi Arabia, he describes his path as one that required persistence and determination.
“It is a path typical of a young African footballer, forced to work two to three times harder to earn a place, full of ups and downs, but that’s also the beauty of the journey,” he noted, adding, “I’m proud of it.”
The defender emphasised the demands of elite football, particularly the need for focus and mental strength.
“The highest level demands so much of it,” he said, while stressing that “the mental aspect is very important; football is quite strange and complex both on and off the pitch.”
Despite still being at an early stage of his international career, Keller has already set clear targets.
He hopes to become an influential figure for Cameroon in the future.
“The Indomitable Lions are a real and constant motivation, to be a leader later on,” he stated.
