Wednesday, April 16, 2025 - Gabonese international footballer, Aaron Boupendza, has tragically died at the age of 28 after falling from the 11th floor of a building in China, the Gabonese Football Federation (Fegafoot) confirmed on Wednesday.
“The Gabonese international died following a fall from the
11th floor of his building in China, where he was playing for Zhejiang FC,” the
federation announced in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
Fegafoot described Boupendza as “a great striker who left his
mark on the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon,” referencing his standout
performances during the 2022 tournament where Gabon reached the Round of 16
before being eliminated by Burkina Faso.
“Fegafoot and the entire Gabonese football family offer their
sincere condolences to his biological family,” the statement added.
Gabon’s President-elect Brice Oligui Nguema also paid
tribute, posting on X:
“It is with immense sadness that I learn of the tragic death
of Aaron Boupendza, a talented centre-forward who brought honour to Gabonese
football.”
Gabon 24, a national broadcaster, reported that while the
exact circumstances of the fall remain unclear, an investigation is currently
underway to determine the cause of the incident.
Born in Moanda, Boupendza began his professional career in
2016 with French club Bordeaux, spending much of his early career on loan to
other French teams. He rose to prominence after joining Turkish side Hatayspor
in 2020, where he finished as the top scorer in the Super Lig for the 2020–21
season.
Following his success in Turkey, he had stints with Al Arabi
in Qatar, where he won the Qatar FA Cup, and Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia.
Boupendza later played in the United States for FC Cincinnati and in Romania
with Rapid Bucharest, before signing with Zhejiang FC in January 2025.
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