Gabonese football mourns loss of Aaron Boupendza at 28

by Staff Reporter

Thursday Apr 17, 2025. 11:00

Gabon international Aaron Boupendza has passed away after reportedly falling from the 11th floor of a building in China at the age of 28.

The forward was part of the squad that featured in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon and he had a total of 35 caps for the Panthers.

Boupendza joined Chinese club Zhejiang FC from Romanian club Rapid Bucharest in the January transfer window.

He began his career in Gabon with CF Mounana, and then went on to have spells with teams in France, Portugal, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United States.

The player’s death was announced by the Gabon football federation (Fegafoot) on social media.

“Boupendza is remembered as a great striker who made his mark during the [AFCON] in Cameroon,” the statement said according to the BBC.

“Fegafoot and the Gabonese football family offer their sincere condolences to his family.”

Gabon’s president-elect Gen Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema paid tribute to Boupendza, saying that he was “a talented centre-forward who brought honour to Gabonese football”.