Vincent Aboubakar

Vincent Paté Aboubakar (born 22 January 1992) is a Cameroonian footballer who plays as a striker for Porto and the Cameroonian national team.

Vincent Aboubakar
Aboubakar with Porto in 2014
Personal information
Full name Vincent Paté Aboubakar
Date of birth (1992-01-22) 22 January 1992
Place of birth Yaoundé, Cameroon
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Porto
Number 9
Youth career
2006–2008 Coton Sport
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Coton Sport 15 (7)
2010–2013 Valenciennes 72 (9)
2011–2013 Valenciennes B 4 (3)
2013–2014 Lorient 37 (17)
2014– Porto 83 (36)
2016–2017 → Beşiktaş (loan) 27 (12)
2019 Porto B 1 (0)
National team‡
2009 Cameroon U20 14 (4)
2010– Cameroon 67 (20)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16 June 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17 November 2019

He began his career at Coton Sport and moved to Europe in 2010, playing for Ligue 1 clubs Valenciennes and Lorient, totalling 109 appearances and 26 goals in France's top division. In 2014, he signed for Porto, where he played over 100 games and scored over 50 goals, winning a Primeira Liga title. He won the Turkish Süper Lig while on loan at Beşiktaş in 2016–17.

Aboubakar has earned over 60 caps for Cameroon since his international debut in May 2010. He was part of their squads for the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, as well as the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015 and 2017. He scored the winning goal in the final of the latter.

Club career

Valenciennes and Lorient

On 26 May 2010, Aboubakar signed with Valenciennes FC in France.[2] He was assigned the number 9 shirt and made his debut in the club's opening league match of the season against Nice appearing as a substitute. He scored his first goal and hat-trick against Boulogne in Coupe de la Ligue.

Aboubakar signed for Lorient on a free transfer on 1 July 2013.[3] He made his debut for the Breton team on 10 August, playing the full 90 minutes of a 1–0 loss at Lille, and scored his first goal eight days later, equalising in a 2–1 win over Nantes at the Stade du Moustoir.[4] He came joint second top scorer over the season with 16 league goals from 35 appearances, including braces in a 4–0 win at Évian on 23 November and a 4–4 home draw with Montpellier on 20 April 2014.[5][6]

Porto

Aboubakar signed for Porto on 24 August 2014, signing a four-year contract for a fee of €3 million, equivalent to 30% of his economic rights. He had previously been a target for Hull City.[7][8]

He made his debut on 14 September in a 1–1 Primeira Liga draw at Vitoria S.C., replacing Héctor Herrera in added time. Three days later in the UEFA Champions League, after coming on for Jackson Martínez, he scored his first Porto goal to conclude a 6–0 home win over BATE Borisov in the UEFA Champions League group stage.[9] On 25 October, again as the Colombian's replacement, he scored a first league goal to wrap up a 5–0 victory at F.C. Arouca.[10] He was used almost exclusively as a substitute over the season, as Porto finished runners-up to S.L. Benfica.

In his second season in Portugal, following the sale of Martínez, Aboubakar played much more regularly. He opened the season on 15 August 2015 with two goals in a 3–0 win over Vitória at the Estádio do Dragão,[11] and scored twice the following 10 January in a 5–0 win at city rivals Boavista FC.[12] He scored once in five games as the team reached the final of the Taça de Portugal, and scored the only goal of the fifth-round win at C.D. Feirense on 16 December 2015.[13]

Loan to Beşiktaş

On 27 August 2016, Süper Lig reigning champions Beşiktaş signed Aboubakar on a season-long loan.[14] He made his debut for the Istanbul-based club on 10 September, replacing Olcay Şahan for the last six minutes of a 3–1 home win over Kardemir Karabükspor. He did not score until his eighth match, in which he contributed two goals to a 3–2 Champions League win at Napoli on 19 October 2016 that was his club's first win in the competition since November 2009.[15] Four days later he scored his first league goal, also assisting Talisca in a 3–0 victory over Antalyaspor at Vodafone Park.[16] In March 2017, he scored in each leg of a 5–2 aggregate win over Olympiakos in the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League, although he was sent off in the second game for fighting with Panagiotis Retsos.[17] He finished the season scoring 12 goals in 27 league appearances, as the Black Eagles retained their league title.

Return to Porto

After returning to Portugal, Aboubakar was part of a three-pronged attack made of African players, alongside the Malian Moussa Marega and Algeria's Yacine Brahimi.[18] He scored his first hat-trick for the Dragons on 20 August 2017 in a 3–0 home win over Moreirense FC.[19] On 13 September, as the Champions League campaign began with a 3–1 home loss to Beşiktaş, he celebrated with his former teammates in their changing room.[20] He scored five times in the group as Porto advanced, including two-goal hauls in both wins over French champions AS Monaco.[21] On 10 December, he scored another hat-trick in a 5–0 win at Vitória F.C. that put Porto back on top of the table.[22]

In September 2018, Aboubakar suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury against C.D. Tondela. He underwent surgery, causing a long-term absence.[23] On 4 May 2019, he made his comeback as a late substitute for Marega in a 4–0 home win over C.D. Aves.[24]

On 18 August 2019, Aboubakar played the full 90 minutes of FC Porto B's 1–1 home draw with Varzim S.C. in LigaPro.[25]

International career
Aboubakar at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup

On 18 August 2009, Aboubakar was called up to the Cameroon national under-20 football team squad for the Francophone Games in Beirut.[26]

In May 2010, aged 18, he was named to the Cameroon 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Aboubakar was the only player in the squad who was based in Cameroon.[27][28] He made his debut in the friendly match on 29 May 2010 against Slovakia.[29] On August 11, 2010 Aboubakar scored his first goal for the national team, in a friendly against Poland.

He was called up for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, and subsequently for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. In the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, Aboubakar scored an 88th-minute goal in the final to hand Cameroon a comeback 2–1 victory against Egypt to end his nation's 15-year wait for a continental crown.[30]

Later that year, he was part of the Cameroonian squad at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia. He scored a consolation goal in their 3–1 loss to world champions Germany in Sochi on 25 June.[31]

Aboubakar was a noted absence from Cameroon's 2019 Africa Cup of Nations squad, with manager Clarence Seedorf doubting his fitness after his recent return from long-term injury.[32]

Style of play

In November 2017, Goal.com's Solace Chukwu wrote that Aboubakar had much in common with his Porto strike partner Marega in that both are physically imposing but have insufficient technical ability. He added that Brahimi's skill set made up for this deficit and was a factor in the team's success.[18]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 16 June 2020[33][34]
Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Coton Sport 2009–10 Elite One 15700———157
Valenciennes 2010–11 Ligue 1 1711023——204
2011–12 Ligue 1 2764200—1[lower-alpha 3]2318
2012–13 Ligue 1 2821110—3[lower-alpha 3]1303
Total 7296333—438115
Lorient 2013–14 Ligue 1 35161000——3616
2014–15 Ligue 1 210000——21
Total 37171000——3817
Porto 2014–15 Primeira Liga 14400214[lower-alpha 4]3—208
2015–16 Primeira Liga 281351118[lower-alpha 5]3—4218
2017–18 Primeira Liga 281554426[lower-alpha 4]5—4326
2018–19 Primeira Liga 8400101[lower-alpha 4]01[lower-alpha 6]0114
2019–20 Primeira Liga 5020002[lower-alpha 7]2—92
Total 83361258421131012558
Beşiktaş (loan) 2016–17 Süper Lig 271221—9[lower-alpha 8]6—3819
Career total 23481219117301910297116
  1. Appearances in Coupe de France, Taça de Portugal and Turkish Cup
  2. Appearances in Coupe de la Ligue and Taça da Liga
  3. Appearances and goals for Valenciennes B in the Championnat de France Amateur (not accounted for the total statistics)
  4. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  5. Six appearances and three goals in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
  7. One appearance in UEFA Champions League, one appearance and two goals in UEFA Europa League
  8. Six appearances and three goals in UEFA Champions League, three appearances and three goals in UEFA Europa League

International goals
As of match played 25 March 2018. Cameroon score listed first, score column indicates score after each Aboubakar goal.[33]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 11 August 2010Stadion Miejski, Poznań, Poland5 Poland3–03–0Friendly
2 5 March 2014Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal22 Portugal1–11–5Friendly
3 6 September 2014Stade TP Mazembe, Lubumbashi, DR Congo27 DR Congo2–02–02015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
4 10 September 2014Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, Cameroon28 Ivory Coast2–14–12015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
5 3–1
6 15 November 2014Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, Cameroon30 DR Congo1–01–02015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
7 10 January 2015Stade d'Angondjé, Libreville, Gabon32 South Africa1–01–1Friendly
8 25 March 2015Gelora Delta Stadium, Sidoarjo, Indonesia36 Indonesia1–01–0Friendly
9 6 June 2015Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes, France37 Burkina Faso1–13–2Friendly
10 14 June 2015Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, Cameroon39 Mauritania1–01–02017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
11 6 September 2015Independence Stadium, Bakau, Gambia40 Gambia1–01–02017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
12 13 November 2015Stade Général Seyni Kountché, Niamey, Niger42 Niger2–03–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
13 30 May 2016Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, France45 France1–12–3Friendly
14 12 November 2016Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam, Cameroon48 Zambia1–11–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification
15 5 February 2017Stade de l'Amitié , Libreville, Gabon54 Egypt2–12–12017 Africa Cup of Nations
16 24 March 2017Stade Mustapha Ben Jannet , Monastir, Tunisia55 Tunisia1–01–0Friendly
17 10 June 2017Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, Cameroon57 Morocco1–01–02019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
18 25 June 2017Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi, Russia60 Germany1–21–32017 FIFA Confederations Cup
19 4 September 2017Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, Cameroon62 Nigeria1–11–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification
20 25 March 2018Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait65 Kuwait1–03–1Friendly

Honours

Club
Coton Sport
Beşiktaş
Porto

International
Cameroon

References
  1. "Beşiktaş J.K. Official Web Site". www.bjk.com.tr.
  2. "Valenciennes recrute à Quevilly". sport.fr. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
  3. "Aboubakar vers Lorient" [Abubakar to Lorient]. France Football (in French). 26 June 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  4. "Ligue 1 - Nantes tombe à Lorient" [Ligue 1 - Nantes fall at Lorient] (in French). Goal.com. 18 August 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  5. Smith, Jeremy (25 November 2013). "TEAM OF THE WEEK: ABOUBAKAR HELPS MERLUS TO SWIM THROUGH EVIAN WATERS". French Football Weekly. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  6. "Aboubakar, valeur montante" [Aboubakar, increasing in value]. Le Télégramme (in French). 22 April 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  7. "Porto beat Hull to the signing of Vincent Aboubakar". Sky Sports. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  8. "FC Porto snap up striker Aboubakar". ESPN. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  9. Crossan, David (17 September 2014). "Brahimi brilliant as Porto blow away BATE". UEFA. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  10. "FC Porto goleia em Arouca (5-0) e pressiona Benfica (vídeo)" [FC Porto win big in Arouca (5–0) and put pressure on Benfica (video)] (in Portuguese). TSF. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  11. Ferreira, Almiro (15 August 2015). "F.C. Porto vence o V. Guimarães com golos de Aboubakar e Varela" [F.C. Porto defeat V. Guimarães with goals from Aboubakar and Varela]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  12. "White and Blue storm in Estádio do Bessa". F.C. Porto. 10 January 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  13. "Aboubakar: "I'm pleased that I helped FC Porto"". F.C. Porto. 16 December 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  14. Monteiro, Bruno Filipe (25 August 2016). "Aboubakar emprestado ao Besiktas" [Aboubakar loaned to Beşiktaş]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  15. Yılmaz, Çetin Cem (20 October 2016). "Napoli double provides cathartic release for Aboubakar". UEFA. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  16. "Turquie: Aboubakar dompte Samuel Eto'o" [Aboubakar tames Samuel Eto'o] (in French). Cameroun Web. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  17. "Besiktas 4 Olympiacos 1 (5-2 agg): Gunes' men shrug off Aboubakar dismissal". FourFourTwo. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  18. Chukwu, Solace (1 November 2017). "The three-headed Dragon: Brahimi, Marega, Aboubakar powering Porto". Goal.com. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  19. "Porto vence Moreirense com hat-trick de Aboubakar" [Porto defeat Moreirense with hat-trick by Aboubakar]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 20 August 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  20. "VIDEO: Striker Vincent Aboubakar celebrates with OPPOSITION as Porto lose to Besiktas". Talksport. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  21. "Aboubakar scores 2 as Porto routs Monaco 5-2 to advance". The Washington Post. Associated Press. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  22. "Porto striker Aboubakar gets hat trick in 5-0 win at Setubal". The Washington Post. Associated Press. 10 December 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  23. Okeleji, Oluwashina (30 September 2018). "Cameroon's Vincent Aboubakar undergoes surgery on a knee injury". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  24. "FC Porto goleia Aves e mantem perseguição ao Benfica" [FC Porto thrash Aves and remain in pursuit of Benfica]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 4 May 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  25. "Aboubakar foi reforço de peso, mas FC Porto B continua sem vencer" [Aboubakar was a big reinforcement, but FC Porto B continue without a win]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 18 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  26. Football: Le Cameroun prépare les jeux de la de la Francophonie BEYROUTH 2009
  27. Cameroon backs Eto'o for WCup By Emmanuel Tumanjong, Associated Press Writer
  28. World Cup 2010: complete provisional squad lists guardian.co.uk, Thursday 13 May 2010 14.29 BST
  29. "Soccer". FOX Sports.
  30. "Africa Cup of Nations 2017: Cameroon 2–1 Egypt". BBC Sport. 5 February 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  31. "Confederations Cup: Germany reach semi-final after video replay confusion". The Guardian. Associated Press. 25 June 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  32. Enow, Njie (12 June 2019). "Africa Cup of Nations: Cameroon's Aboubakar misses out through injury". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  33. Vincent Aboubakar at Soccerway
  34. "Vincent Aboubakar". Footballdatabase.
  35. talkSPORT (2018-05-07). "Porto break Benfica dominance in Portugal to win first league title since 2013 and have a massive party". talkSPORT. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
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