Gabon international and Zhejiang FC striker, Aaron Boupendza, has tragically passed away at the age of 28 after falling from the 11th floor of a building in China, the Gabonese Football Federation (Fegafoot) confirmed on Wednesday.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Fegafoot said: “The Gabonese international died following a fall from the 11th floor of his building in China, where he was playing for Zhejiang FC. Aged 28, Boupendza leaves us with the memory of a great striker who left his mark on the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon.”
Boupendza was part of Gabon’s squad at the 2022 AFCON, where the Panthers reached the Round of 16 before being eliminated by Burkina Faso.
The federation extended its heartfelt condolences to Boupendza’s family, stating: “Fegafoot and the entire Gabonese football family offer their sincere condolences to his biological family.”
Gabon’s president-elect, Brice Oligui Nguema, also expressed sorrow over the loss. “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,” he wrote on X.
While the exact circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, national broadcaster Gabon 24 reported that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fall.
Born in Moanda, Boupendza began his professional career with French club Bordeaux in 2016. Though he spent most of his time on loan to other French teams, he made a name for himself after joining Turkish side Hatayspor in 2020, finishing as the Turkish Super Lig’s top scorer in the 2020–21 season.
His career later took him to Qatar’s Al Arabi, where he lifted the Qatar FA Cup, followed by a stint in Saudi Arabia with Al Shabab. Boupendza also played in the United States for FC Cincinnati and Romania’s Rapid Bucharest, before moving to China in January 2025 to join Zhejiang FC.
His death has sent shockwaves across the football community, with tributes pouring in from teammates, clubs, fans, and football federations worldwide.
