Death of Gabonese international Aaron Boupendza after fall from 11th floor

Wednesday 16 April 2025 - 14:33

By: Zahouani Ilham

Death of Gabonese international Aaron Boupendza after fall from 11th floor

Gabonese international striker Aaron Boupendza has tragically passed away at the age of 28 after falling from the 11th floor of a building in China, where he was living and playing for Zhejiang FC. The news was confirmed by the Gabonese Football Federation (Fegafoot) through a message on its X (formerly Twitter) account.

The federation expressed deep sorrow over the sudden loss, remembering Boupendza as a talented forward who left a lasting impression during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon. Gabon was eliminated in the round of 16 during the 2022 tournament by Burkina Faso.

Fegafoot extended its heartfelt condolences to Boupendza's family and highlighted the deep impact of his death on the national football community.

Gabon’s transitional president, Brice Oligui Nguema, also expressed his grief on X, describing Boupendza as a gifted striker who brought pride to Gabonese football.

State broadcaster Gabon 24 reported that the incident occurred in the city of Hangzhou, in eastern China. The precise circumstances of the tragedy remain unclear, and local authorities have reportedly opened an investigation to determine what happened.

Boupendza began his career in France, where he was trained at Bordeaux and played for several clubs including Pau FC, Gazélec Ajaccio, and Tours. He later had successful stints with Hatayspor in Turkey, Al Arabi in Qatar, FC Cincinnati in the United States, and Rapid Bucharest in Romania, before joining Zhejiang FC in January.