The football world is in mourning following the tragic death of Gabonese international striker Aaron Boupendza, who passed away at the age of 28 after reportedly falling from the 11th floor of a building in China.
According to a statement by the Gabon Football Federation (Fegafoot), Boupendza died on Wednesday in China, where he was playing for Chinese Super League side Zhejiang FC.
“The Gabonese international died following a fall from the 11th floor of his building in China, where he was playing for Zhejiang FC,” Fegafoot announced in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Aged 28, Boupendza leaves us with the memory of a great striker who left his mark on the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.”
Boupendza featured prominently in Gabon’s squad at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where the Panthers were eliminated in the round of 16 by Burkina Faso. He was known for his powerful presence up front and had become one of the standout names in African football.
The tragic news has sparked an outpouring of grief across Gabon. President-elect Brice Oligui Nguema expressed his condolences on social media, writing, “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.”
While the exact circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, Gabon 24 reported that an investigation has been launched by authorities in China to determine what led to the fall.
Born in the southeastern Gabonese town of Moanda, Boupendza’s football career began with promise. He joined French side Bordeaux in 2016, although much of his time there was spent on loan at various clubs across France.
His breakthrough came during the 2020–21 season with Turkish side Hatayspor, where he emerged as the Super Lig’s top scorer. That success led to moves to Qatar’s Al Arabi, where he won the Qatar FA Cup, and later to Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia.
He later played in the United States with FC Cincinnati and in Romania with Rapid Bucharest before sealing a move to China in January 2025.
Boupendza’s death marks a profound loss for Gabon and African football at large. Tributes continue to pour in for the forward, remembered not just for his football talent but for the pride he brought to his nation on the global stage.
