Exclusive: Marou Souaibou joins Orlando Pirates on a bumper deal

DStv Premiership side Orlando Pirates have reached an agreement to sign exciting Cameroonian forward Marou Souaibou, on a three-year contract, kick442.com can exclusively report.

Souaibou, 21, winner of the 2022 Cameroon footballer of the year award will join from Cotonsport of Garoua.

kick442.com understands the forward who scored 21 goals in all competitions last season will sign a deal worth an initial $200 000, plus ad ons later.

Both clubs agreed the deal this week, barely hours after Souaibou was included in Cameroon’s squad for the 2022 World Cup.

The striker will be registered by the Bucs during the January window. Souaibou is currently in camp with the rest of the Cameroon squad. He is expected to travel to South Africa to complete formalities for the deal after he returns from the FIFA World Cup.

Skipper of Cotonsport of Garoua in the past two seasons, Souaibou leaves the club as a legend – having scored 30 goals in 63 games in all competitions, the highlight being the winner in the cup of Cameroon final and a screamer in the semi-final of the title playoff against Eding Sport last July.

Souaibou is a quick, strong and ambidextrous forward, with capable hold-up abilities, but the Cameroonian is more keen to attack the goal and take every chance he gets to score.

In addition, the speedy forward’s prowess in the air, despite being only 5ft 11, gives variety to a team’s attacking plays. His excellent positional awareness and accuracy in front of goal makes Souaibou a manager’s dream.

Orlando Pirates are currently fifth in the DSTV Premiership, but have struggled to score goals this season. Coach José Luis Riveiro’s team only scored nine goals in 13 games this season.

The lack of goals this season is the reason the nine times South African champions pushed to sign the current Olympic Lions skipper.

Before making his debut for the the Indomitable Lions against Jamaica this week, Souaibou played for Cameroon’s U-23 and Intermediate national teams – he scored for both categories.