Aaron Boupendza
Boupendza with Gazélec Ajaccio in 2018
Personal information
Full name Aaron Salem Boupendza Pozzi
Date of birth (1996-08-07) 7 August 1996 (age 27)
Place of birth Moanda, Gabon[1]
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 FC Cincinnati
Number 9
Youth career
–2015 CF Mounana
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 CF Mounana 6 (6)
2016–2020 Bordeaux B 20 (8)
2017–2020 Bordeaux 0 (0)
2017–2018 → Pau (loan) 21 (15)
2018 → Gazélec Ajaccio (loan) 10 (0)
2018–2019 → Tours (loan) 12 (3)
2019–2020 → Feirense (loan) 9 (0)
2020–2021 Hatayspor 36 (22)
2021–2022 Al-Arabi 17 (8)
2022–2023 Al-Shabab 17 (11)
2023– FC Cincinnati 10 (5)
International career‡
2016– Gabon 30 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 September 2023

Aaron Salem Boupendza Pozzi (born 7 August 1996) is a Gabonese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati and the Gabon national team.

Formed at CF Mounana, where he won the Gabon Championnat National D1 in 2015–16, he signed for Bordeaux in 2016. He played only for the reserve team and out on loan, finishing as top scorer of the Championnat National for Pau in 2017–18. In 2020 he signed for Hatayspor, and was top scorer in the Süper Lig in 2020–21. He then had one season each with Al Arabi of the Qatar Stars League and Al Shabab of the Saudi Pro League, winning a Qatar FA Cup with the former in 2022.

A full international for Gabon since 2016, Boupendza represented the country at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Career

Bordeaux

Born in Moanda, Boupendza came through the youth ranks of CF Mounana, where he won the Gabon Championnat National D1 in 2015–16. He had a trial at Tours FC of the French Ligue 2 in February 2016.[2]

In August 2016, Boupendza signed for Ligue 1 side FC Girondins de Bordeaux to play for the club's reserve team in fifth-tier Championnat National 3.[2] A year later, he joined Championnat National side Pau FC on loan.[3] He was the top scorer of the 2017–18 Championnat National with 15 goals.[4]

Boupendza signed a new contract in July 2018 to keep himself at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux until 2021, while also being loaned out to Gazélec Ajaccio of Ligue 2.[5] On 9 December, his loan was terminated by mutual agreement of both clubs, after he did not score in 11 total appearances. He was then loaned to Tours in the division below.[6]

In July 2019, Boupendza was loaned to C.D. Feirense in the Portuguese LigaPro.[7] Having not scored in 11 total matches for Filó's team, his contract was rescinded in March for refusing to join the reserve team.[8]

Hatayspor

In August 2020, after being released by Bordeaux, Boupendza signed a two-year deal at Hatayspor, newly promoted to the Turkish Süper Lig.[9] He was the top scorer in his first season with 22 goals in 36 games as the team from Antakya came sixth; teammate Mame Biram Diouf was second with 19 goals.[10] He scored four times on 29 December in a 6–0 win at Antalyaspor,[11] and twice on 10 January 2021 in a 2–2 draw with eventual winners Beşiktaş J.K. at the Antakya Atatürk Stadyumu [tr].[12]

Middle East

In August 2021, Boupendza joined Qatar Stars League club Al-Arabi SC for €4.5 million.[13] On 8 May 2022, he scored after three minutes in a 3–2 win over Lusail SC to lift the Qatar FA Cup.[14]

Boupendza signed a three-year deal at Al Shabab FC of the Saudi Pro League in August 2022.[15] He scored 11 goals in 17 games in his one league season in Riyadh, including four on 31 May as the campaign concluded with a 4–1 win at Damac FC.[16]

FC Cincinnati

In June 2023, Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati announced they had signed Boupendza from Al-Shabab on a transfer, with the striker signing a Designated Player deal through 2025, with options for 2026 and 2027. He arrived after the club had sold leading striker Brenner to Udinese Calcio.[17] His five regular-season goals helped the team win the Eastern Conference and Supporters' Shield, and on 4 November he equalised in a 1–1 draw away to the New York Red Bulls before netting in a penalty shootout win in the first round of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.[18]

International career

Boupendza was first called up for Gabon in January 2016 for the African Nations Championship.[19] He made his debut on 10 January in a 1–1 friendly draw away to Uganda, and scored his first goal as consolation in a 2–1 loss to hosts Rwanda in the group stage.[20]

Boupendza was called up for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, where he scored the only goal of the opening group win against the Comoros, who were making their tournament debut.[21] In the last 16 against Burkina Faso, he netted his attempt in a penalty shootout defeat.[22]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 2 December 2023[23]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Hatayspor 2020–21 Süper Lig 36 22 2 0 – – 38 22
Al-Arabi 2021–22 Qatar Stars League 16 8 0 0 3 1 3[c] 1 22 10
2022–23 Qatar Stars League 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 17 8 1 0 3 1 3 1 24 10
Al Shabab 2022–23 Saudi Pro League 17 11 0 0 – – 17 11
FC Cincinnati 2023 MLS 10 5 1 0 — 7[d] 1 18 6
Career total 80 46 4 0 3 1 10 2 97 49
  1. ^ Includes Turkish Cup, Emir Cup, U.S. Open Cup
  2. ^ Includes Qatar FA Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in Qatari Stars Cup
  4. ^ Three appearances in Leagues Cup, four appearances and one goal in MLS Cup Playoffs

International

Scores and results list Gabon's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Boupendza goal.[24]
List of international goals scored by Aaron Boupendza
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 20 January 2016 Amahoro Stadium, Kigali, Rwanda  Rwanda 1–2 1–2 2016 African Nations Championship
2 15 October 2019 Stade Ibn Batouta, Tangier, Morocco  Morocco 1–0 3–2 Friendly
3 17 November 2019 Stade de Franceville, Franceville, Gabon  Angola 1–0 2–1 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
4 25 March 2021 Stade de Franceville, Franceville, Gabon  DR Congo 1–0 3–0 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
5 10 January 2022 Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, Cameroon  Comoros 1–0 1–0 2021 Africa Cup of Nations

Honours

CF Mounana

Al-Arabi

FC Cincinnati

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b "Aaron BOUPENDZA - Football : la fiche de Aaron BOUPENDZA (Pau)". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Aaron Boupendza: une pépite gabonaise débarque à Bordeaux" [Aaron Boupendza: a Gabonese gem lands in Bordeaux]. Africa Top Sports (in French). 5 August 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  3. ^ "Bordeaux prête Aaron Boupendza à Pau" [Bordeaux loan Aaron Boupendza to Pau]. L'Équipe (in French). 11 August 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Ligue 1 : Bordeaux, l'heure de la rentrée a sonné" [Ligue 1: Bordeaux, the bell has rung for the new season]. Sud-Ouest (in French). 29 June 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Girondins : Boupendza prolonge et part en prêt au Gazélec Ajaccio" [Girondins: Boupendza extends and leaves on loan to Gazélec Ajaccio]. Sud-Ouest (in French). 19 July 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Bordeaux: le prêt de Boupendza au Gazélec rompu, direction Tours" [Bordeaux: Boupendza's loan to Gazélec terminated, heading to Tours]. Le Figaro (in French). 9 December 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  7. ^ Tavares, Ruben (6 July 2019). "Boupendza é o 10° reforço do Feirense" [Boupendza is Feirense's 10th addition]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  8. ^ Malouana, Biggie (11 March 2020). "Football : Une procédure disciplinaire contre Aaron Boupendza" [Football: A disciplinary procedure against Aaron Boupendza] (in French). Gabon Review. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Transferts : Aaron Boupendza (ex-Bordeaux) rebondit en Turquie" [Transfers: Aaron Boupendza (ex-Bordeaux) rebounds in Turkey]. L'Équipe (in French). 6 August 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  10. ^ Taiwo, Taiye (15 May 2021). "Cameroon's Aboubakar and Ghana's Mensah win Super Lig title with Besiktas in final day drama". Goal. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Gabon's Aaron Boupendza wows Turkish Super League". The Maravi Post. 1 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  12. ^ Adewoye, Gbenga (10 January 2021). "Aboubakar, Boupendza score, Akintola and Ghezzal grab assists as Hatayspor hold Besiktas". Goal. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  13. ^ Pemba, Lauris (30 August 2021). "Football: Al Arabi SC officialise l'arrivée d'Aaron Boupendza pour 4,5 millions d'euros" [Football: Al Arabi SC confirm the arrival of Aaron Boupendza for 4.5 million euros] (in French). Gabon Media Time. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  14. ^ a b Malouana, Biggie (10 May 2022). "Football : Boupendza soulève son premier trophée hors du Gabon" [Football: Boupendza lifts his first trophy outside Gabon]. Gabon Review (in French). Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  15. ^ Mbeng Essone, Lyonnel (9 August 2022). "Transfert: Boupendza signe en Arabie Saoudite pour 3 ans avec Al Shabab" [Transfer: Boupendza signs in Saudi Arabia for 3 years with Al Shabab] (in French). Gabon Media Time. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Football : un quadruplé pour Aaron Boupendza en fin de Saudi Pro League" [Football: a quadruple for Aaron Boupendza at the end of the Saudi Pro League season] (in French). Trust Gabon. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  17. ^ Weldon, Casey (13 June 2023). "Forward Aaron Boupendza coming to FC Cincinnati after transfer with Saudi club Al-Shabab FC". Spectrum News 1. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  18. ^ "FC Cincinnati eliminate New York Red Bulls from MLS playoffs". The Guardian. 5 November 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  19. ^ Isabirye, David (5 January 2016). "Coach Bounguendza names Gabon 23 man squad". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  20. ^ "CHAN 2016: Rwanda 2 - 1 Gabon". Radio France Internationale. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  21. ^ "Comoros 0-1 Gabon: Boupendza ends opening day debut dream". Diario AS. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  22. ^ "Afcon last 16: Tunisia stun 10-man Nigeria after Burkina Faso beat Gabon". The Guardian. 23 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  23. ^ Aaron Boupendza at Soccerway
  24. ^ "Aaron Boupendza". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  25. ^ "Turkish Süper Lig Gol Krallığı". TFF. Retrieved 11 May 2021.

External links

FC Cincinnati – current squad
Süper Lig top scorers
Gabon squad – 2021 Africa Cup of Nations
Categories