Vincent Aboubakar (born 22 January 1992); is a Cameroonian professional footballer, who plays as a striker for Saudi Professional League club Al Nassr. And captains the Cameroon national team and first player to score and be sent off World Cup 2022.
Aboubakar 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 125 games and scored 58 goals. Winning a Primeira Liga title.
Turkish Süper Lig
He won the Turkish Süper Lig while on loan at Beşiktaş in 2017. And again in 2021. Vincent Aboubakar has earned over 90 caps for Cameroon; since his international debut in May 2010.
He was part of their squads for the 2010, 2014 and 2022 FIFA World Cups. As well as the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015, 2017 and 2021.
He scored the winning goal in the final of the 2017 tournament; and was the top goalscorer of the 2021 edition.
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Football career
On 26 May 2010, Aboubakar signed with Valenciennes in France. 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. He made his debut for the Breton team; on 10 August, playing the full 90 minutes of a 1–0 loss at Lille.
2–1 win over Nantes
And scored his first goal eight days later, equalising in a 2–1 win over Nantes. At the Stade du Moustoir. 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.
Vincent Signing for 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.
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.
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Colombian’s replacement
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. 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; Vincent 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.
And scored twice the following 10 January in a 5–0 win at city rivals Boavista FC. 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.[14]
Beşiktaş
On 27 August 2016; Süper Lig reigning champions Beşiktaş signed Aboubakar; on a season-long loan. 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; 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. Four days later he scored his first league goal, also assisting Talisca; in a 3–0 victory over Antalyaspor at Vodafone Park.
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5–2 at Olympiakos and return to Porto
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.
He finished the season scoring 12 goals in 27 league appearances; as the Black Eagles retained their league title. 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. He scored his first hat-trick for the Dragons on 20 August 2017; in a 3–0 home win over Moreirense FC.
3–1 home loss to Beşiktaş
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. He scored five times in the group as Porto advanced;
Including two-goal hauls in both wins over French champions AS Monaco. 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. In September 2018; Aboubakar suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury;
Against C.D. Tondela. He underwent surgery, causing a long-term absence. On 4 May 2019, he made his comeback as a late substitute for Marega; in a 4–0 home win over C.D. Aves. 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.
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Return to Beşiktaş and Al Nassr
After terminating his contract with Porto; Aboubakar returned to Istanbul to meet with Beşiktaş on 25 September 2020. The following day, he signed a contract until 31 May 2021.
In his one season back in Istanbul; he was the fifth-highest goalscorer, with 15 goals as his team won the league. This included two on 29 November in a 4–3 win; at city rivals Fenerbahçe.
On 8 June 2021, Vincent Aboubakar signed with Saudi Professional League club Al Nassr. On a three-year deal. His salary was set at €6 million per year.
Global career
On 18 August 2009, Aboubakar was called up to the Cameroon national; Under-20 football team for the Francophone Games in Beirut.
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.
He made his debut in the friendly match on 29 May 2010 against Slovakia. On 11 August 2010, Aboubakar scored his first goal for the national team, in a friendly against Poland.
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2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil
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. Later that year, he was part of the Cameroon 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. 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.
Africa Cup of Nations
Vincent Aboubakar returned to the national team for the Africa Cup of Nations; hosted by his country at the start of the following year. He scored five group stage goals against Burkina Faso;
Ethiopia and Cape Verde, followed by a sixth in a 2–1 win over Comoros in the last 16. In the third-place match against Burkina Faso, he scored twice in a 3–3 draw; which was eventually won on penalties.
With 8 goals in 7 games, he was the top scorer and made the Team of the Tournament. In the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he scored a goal and; provided an assist in a 3–3 draw against Serbia.
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Playing style
His goal was described as an “outrageous scoop” by BBC. He scored the winning goal against Brazil in the third match; after which he drew a yellow card for taking off his shirt.
In November 2017, Goal.com’s Solace Chukwu wrote that Aboubakar; had much in common with his Porto strike partner Moussa Marega. In that both are physically imposing but have insufficient technical ability.
He added that Yacine Brahimi’s skill set made up for this deficit and was a factor in the team’s success.