By Angu Lesley Ngwa Akonwi
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
Cameroon captain Vincent Aboubakar has officially joined Azerbaijani side Neftçi FK and took part in his first training session with the club on Monday, nearly four months after leaving Turkish outfit Hatayspor.
The 33-year-old striker, who has been a free agent since June, was unveiled by Neftçi earlier this week before joining his new teammates for a light evening session at the club’s training base in Baku. Videos released by the club showed Aboubakar in good spirits, actively participating in tactical drills and fitness work.
New chapter for the Indomitable Lions skipper
Aboubakar’s arrival marks one of the headline transfers of the Azerbaijani Premier League season. The former Porto and Beşiktaş forward is expected to bring leadership and a clinical edge to a Neftçi side looking to challenge for domestic honours and reassert themselves on the continental stage.
The club confirmed the signing in a statement on Monday, describing Aboubakar as “a proven international forward whose experience will strengthen the team both on and off the pitch.”
Regaining rhythm and confidence
For Aboubakar, the move to Baku represents a fresh opportunity to relaunch his club career after a difficult spell marked by relegation of his club in Turkey. His last competitive club appearance came in late May with Hatayspor, before parting ways with the club at the end of the season.
Now in Azerbaijan, the Cameroonian captain will be looking to regain full match fitness ahead of Cameroon’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers next month.
A proven leader returns to action
Aboubakar remains one of Africa’s most accomplished strikers, with a career spanning over a decade across Europe and Asia. He has won league titles in Portugal and Turkey and played a pivotal role in Cameroon’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations triumph, famously scoring the decisive goal in the final against Egypt.
His leadership qualities and experience are expected to play a major role in Neftçi’s dressing room, particularly among the club’s younger forwards.
As he embarks on this new challenge, both Neftçi fans and Cameroonian supporters will be eager to see if their captain can rediscover the form and flair that once made him one of Africa’s deadliest finishers.
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