Every word Vincent Aboubakar has said ahead of Afcon semifinals against Egypt
Cameroonian Vincent Aboubakar confides in the microphone of Radio France Internationale (RFI) before the semi-final on Thursday February 3 against Egypt.
The captain of the Indomitable Lions talks about his goals, his role, his dreams, without forgetting these Egyptian Pharaohs who stand on the road to Cameroon. He answers questions from Christophe Jousset of RFI.
You made a thunderous debut in this CAN 2022 with six goals in four games. Was it beyond your own expectations?
It’s not beyond my expectations. Every competition changes. During CAN 2017, I didn’t have a lot of playing time, but in the end, I showed what I was capable of. I think everything I do – in terms of my career, the teams I’ve faced and what I deliver – is no accident. It is in continuity. When I have opportunities with a collective that works very well, everyone expresses themselves and demonstrates what they are capable of.
Can you describe for us this feeling that one feels when one scores in CAN, as captain of the Indomitable Lions, in a stadium where the Cameroonian public creates this deafening atmosphere?
Honestly, the feeling is the same. It’s as if I was playing in a club, there is nothing special. It’s just the desire to win that drives me. It is not only me but also all the players who have responsibilities. We want to carry Cameroon very high.
Against Gambia, you did not score, a first since the start of the CAN. Does it work for you or do you quickly sweep it out of your mind?
It’s already gone. In life, there are little moments when things don’t go exactly the way you want them to.
With Karl Toko-Ekambi, you are complementary. Between you, you have scored all of Cameroon’s goals…
Yes, you saw that! We are complementary, but the most important thing is to win. If me, Karl or any other player manages to score and Cameroon win, that’s the most important thing. We must raise Cameroon to the top in this competition.
In 2017, you wore the FC Porto shirt, then Besiktas. Now you are in the Gulf and we weren’t sure where you were. But you have shown that you are in very good shape. How did you prepare for this CAN?
It doesn’t matter which country or continent you play in: a good player remains a good player. You just have to not accept that doubt invades you to the point of making you doubt your qualities. When you are a good player, your qualities come out naturally, without forcing. I went to the Gulf countries where it was not easy for me. But in this CAN, we have the confidence of the coach. The only way to reward those who trust me is by performing well, helping the team win and go up.
If you win this CAN, you will be part of these Indomitable Lions who have been crowned twice, after the 2017 title. You would join players like Roger Milla (1984 and 1988), Patrick Mboma and Samuel Eto’o (2000 and 2002)… Marking history in this way, are you sensitive to it?
A footballer wants to make an impression. When you pass somewhere, you want people to remember that you left a lot of positives. In all the clubs where I went, except Valenciennes where I had a little complicated beginnings, you will only be told positive things about me. When I go somewhere, I am one of the key elements of success. I try to pull my teammates and lead the way. It is this state of mind that drives me, I am like that by nature.
Cameroon-Egypt is quite a story, sometimes happy, sometimes unhappy for Cameroonians. What is your strongest memory of this poster?
As a child, I don’t have any strong memories of it. Today we are on the verge of achieving something. When you are in the field, you realize that you have a big responsibility, you have to write a story. All players would like to play this kind of match, a semi-final. There are a lot of emotions in this game. We will have to control ourselves and deliver a good match.
We remember the CAN 2017 final, won by Cameroon against Egypt, with your goal coming from elsewhere. Is this the kind of goal that marks a career?
No (laughs). I have done many things in my career. I had good times in Porto, Lorient, Cameroon in 2010 and 2014. After that goal scored… As it was in the final, we don’t talk about it anymore. There is a moment when the qualities of a player arise. That day, I had said that I was going to score in the final. I had prepared for it long before. It was no accident, it was well written. It just had to be made real. Everything was written.
That day, the Egyptian Mohamed Salah had a good final but he lost. The general opinion is that he is stronger today than in 2017. What is your view of him?
I see it as before. He is having a great season in the Premier League, he is helping his country to advance in the competition. I wish him a lot of luck. May the best win ! He doesn’t impress me much. I say it clearly because I’m an honest person and I have my way of seeing things. If he impressed me, I would say so. But he doesn’t impress me much. He’s a good player, he scores a lot but he doesn’t produce a lot of stuff in the game. Of course, he’s doing good stuff in the Premier League because he’s been in a team that’s been there for years. He’s a good player but not at the level of some like Mbappé.
Who is the favorite for this semi-final?
There is no favorite (laughs). It will be the team that will have the most desire, will, all that.
We are in the last week of a very long competition since the transition to 24 countries. Where are you physically?
This last week will be played on the mind. We will have to prepare well mentally and rest well to be able to give everything. The way to rest, to be strong mentally… You have to do what it takes. It will be played on details.
You are going to play again at the Olembé stadium for the first time since the deadly stampede. How do you apprehend this moment? How did you learn about this disaster?
The national team sent its condolences to the families of the victims. It was a sad moment, which no one likes to experience. These people had come to support us, and unfortunately, things did not go as they should. We support families, we send positive thoughts to appease the souls who have left. These are things that will always be remembered. We will play for those who have left, we will fight and give our all.
