Zinédine Zidane calls up Steve Ngoura of Cercle de Bruges to the Bleus

The young Pro League striker Steve Ngoura, playing for Cercle de Bruges, was called up by the France manager, Zinédine Zidane, to train with the senior team after Marcus Thuram's injury and the late arrival of Éli Junior Kroupi at Clairefontaine.

Steve Ngoura is one of the sixty‑eight players who left Belgium during the break. The striker of Cercle de Bruges joined the France U21s. He trained with the senior side.

After Zinédine Zidane came to observe a France U21 training session, Ngoura said he was delighted. The Cercle striker, a starter with the Bleuets, explained that the manager told him that reaching “the big ones” was not far away. A few hours after that statement, the “divine bald man” called him up to train with the senior side.

The staff called on him because Marcus Thuram was injured and Éli Junior Kroupi arrived too late at Clairefontaine. Ngoura described the moment as a memory etched forever in his mind.

Career and performances of Steve Ngoura

Arriving from Le Havre in January 2025, he showcases his power at the tip of Cercle de Bruges' attack. Scoring five goals this season, he also registers five assists in six Euro qualifying matches with the French U21s.

During his press conference, he mentioned Saël Kumbedi's selection for the senior side. The Wolfsburg full‑back, initially slated to join the U21s, earned his first senior call‑up thanks to Pierre Kalulu's withdrawal.

Reactions and outlook

"I did all my training with him. We kind of had classes together, we were in middle school and high school together. We laughed about it. I know he worked a lot to get there. It's not an end point, but it's a big step and I'm proud of him," Ngoura said.

This promotion inevitably gives ideas to the U21s. “It’s true that with Zinédine Zidane’s arrival, we see that there are pathways. By working, I think it can become more accessible for everyone,” Ngoura added.

The Bruges striker wonders if he will be called up again in the future. “Zinédine came to see us at a U21 training. Basically, he told us that the senior team wasn’t far away. That with work we could get there, and I felt that what he said was the truth. He proved it with actions. We saw Leny (Leny Yoro NDLR) go up. Then, this time he went straight in without there being an injured player to replace. And now it’s Saël,” Ngoura concluded.