Gilles Augustin Binya (born 29 August 1984) is a Cameroonian retired footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
He spent most of his career in Turkey, representing Gaziantepspor and Elazığspor and appearing in 87 Süper Lig matches for the former club. He also competed professionally, other than in his own country, in Algeria, Portugal and Switzerland.
Binya won 17 caps for Cameroon, representing the country in two Africa Cup of Nations.
Club career Born in Yaoundé, Binya signed with S.L. Benfica for 2007–08 after spending three years at Algerian club MC Oran. At the beginning of the season the Portuguese planned to loan him to fellow Primeira Liga side C.F. Estrela da Amadora for a year,Médio Gilles contratado (Midfielder Gilles signed for one year) ; Record, 10 August 2007 (in Portuguese)Gilles confirmado no Estrela (Gilles confirmed at Estrela); Record, 23 August 2007 (in Portuguese) but with the substitution of manager Fernando Santos for José Antonio Camacho the deal was cancelled, and the player remained with Benfica.
While playing for the latter team in the UEFA Champions League in November 2007, Binya was shown a straight red card by referee Martin Hansson following a dangerous challenge on Celtic's Scott Brown.McGeady's Celtic art baffles Benfica; UEFA, 6 November 2007 On 16 November 2007 UEFA gave him a six-match ban, meaning that he would play no further part in the remaining two Champions League group fixtures against A.C. Milan and FC Shakhtar Donetsk as well as the four following European matches.Six-game ban for Binya; Sky Sports, 16 November 2007
Domestically, Binya finished the campaign with 16 league appearances, profiting from forced absences to first-choice holding midfielder, Portuguese international Petit.Benfica big on Binya staying power; UEFA, 5 November 2007 In 2008–09 he was used rarely,Moreira perdeu a moral (Moreira's morale is low); Record, 5 January 2009 (in Portuguese) but still collected four yellow cards in only seven games (including two in a 0–2 loss at C.D. Trofense);Binya volta ao onze após expulsão na Trofa (Binya returns to starting XI after being sent off in Trofa); Record, 30 January 2009 (in Portuguese) at the season's closure he was deemed surplus to requirements, going on to serve a loan at Switzerland's Neuchâtel Xamax.Binya emprestado ao Neuchatel Xamax (Binya loaned to Neuchatel Xamax); Record, 31 July 2009 (in Portuguese)
On 16 June 2010, Binya was signed by Neuchâtel on a three-year contract.Binya verlängerte bei Xamax (Binya extends at Xamax); NZZ Online, 16 June 2010 (in German) In August of the following year, he was loaned to Gaziantepspor in the Süper Lig, with the move being made permanent subsequently.
International career Binya was first called up to the Cameroon national team in October 2007, by national manager Otto Pfister.Binya: "Vamos recuperar os pontos perdidos" (Binya: "We will recover lost points"); Record, 29 December 2007 (in Portuguese) Subsequently, he went on to represent his country at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, where Cameroon finished second to Egypt – Pfister was also the team's coach.Binya confirmado na CAN (Binya confirmed at the CAN); Record, 10 January 2008 (in Portuguese)Final and third place; BBC Sport, 10 February 2008
Honours Cameroon African Cup of Nations: runner-up, 2008
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