Leonel Ateba

Leonel Ateba (born 6 February 1999) is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a forward for USM Alger in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 and the Cameroon national team.

USM Alger
On 31 January 2024, Dynamo Douala announced the transfer of Ateba to USM Alger for a period of two and a half years. The signing of the player cost 215,000 euros. On February 16, 2024, played Ateba the first match with his new club as a starter against USM Khenchela in the Ligue 1. On social networks information was released, reporting the threat of the Cameroonian club to file a complaint with FIFA against the USM Alger for not having received the transfer money. Legal advisor and expert in FIFA regulations gave explanations, the expert say that the payment must go through the FIFA Clearing House a new procedure established by the international body. Also stated that Leonel Ateba was under contract with his club and did not have to negotiate his transfer on his own. Moreover, he acknowledged his honor by negotiating his employment contract himself, without the need for an intermediary. The expert explained that USM Alger had obtained four mandates from the player’s representatives, and for this reason the club preferred Negotiate directly with Dinamo Douala.

On March 8, 2024, Ateba scored a brace against MB Rouissat in the Algerian Cup where he played as a substitute in a match that ended 8–0.

International career
On November 21, 2023, Ateba played his first match with the Cameroon national football team against Libya in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. On December 28, 2023, Rigobert Song announced the list of 27 players for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations including Ateba.

International

 * Scores and results list Cameroon's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ateba goal.

Honours
Coton Sport
 * Elite One: 2020–21, 2021–22