Garoua, located in north-eastern Cameroon, is home to just over one million people. Until recently, Ahmadou Ahidjo, Cameroon’s first post-independence president, was the city’s revered hero, but as of late there is a new poster boy in town.
At the stadium in the centre of town, you can find murals aplenty dedicated to their hero: football star Vincent Aboubakar. The Cameroon captain, who currently plays his club football some 4,000 km away in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, spoke at length to FIFA+ about his impressive career and aspirations for Qatar 2022.
"When I arrived in Saudi Arabia, I was initially taken aback by the heat,” he said. "However, the Saudis have been very welcoming and they’re passionate about the game.
"I was born into a predominantly Muslim neighbourhood and when I came here, I found decent and welcoming people. Playing with Al-Nassr has shown me that the Saudis are open-hearted and they gave me a warm welcome.”
Al Nassr’s big money signing of Aboubakar from Besiktas is evidence of the ambition of a club that recently found itself in a hotly-contested title race with local rivals Al Hilal. Since the arrival of Aboubakar, Al-Nassr have signed Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina from Napoli, former Brazil international Luiz Gustavo, as well as Ivorian left-back Ghislain Konan.
Overseeing the whole operation is head coach Rudi Garcia, also a part of the club’s summer overhaul. The aim this season is to prise the highly coveted Saudi Pro League title from Al Hilal, something that has alluded them in the previous three campaigns.
"I think the club’s done well in the transfer market,” said Aboubakar. "This season, the board has added quality to compete for the title.
"Everyone knows the experience Rudi Garcia brings as a coach and I think he’s a great addition. He’s got a great CV having worked at some of the biggest clubs in the world. The coach is doing a great job and I’m convinced we’re going to have a good season. That said, the pressure’s on and, as a squad, we’ve got to perform.”
Dethroning Al Hilal is the latest challenge for the striker, who played in France, Portugal and Turkey before moving to the Gulf. At international level, his biggest challenge is just months away, when he will lead the Indomitable Lions at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
"The World Cup is a beautiful and emotional competition,” he said. "We’re in a tough group against the likes of Brazil, Switzerland and Serbia.
"We won’t be afraid of Brazil because the current side is not the Brazil of old. It is true that they have some quality players, but you need a united squad to go far in a tournament. A team with big names but no unity means nothing.
"We must arrive at the World Cup in the best shape possible – hopefully with no injuries – and prepare well. After that, we’ll see what happens.
In his youth, Aboubakar was so focussed on his on-field development that he had little time to watch football on TV – that is until he stumbled upon a televised La Liga match, which changed his life.
"I’m not the kind of person who likes to watch matches – I prefer to be in amongst the action, playing alongside my mates. When I was a kid, I had a friend named Fidel. One day, he called me to come watch a game. ‘There’s a player I’m sure you’ll love,’ he told me.
"Barcelona were playing against Athletic Bilbao. When I arrived, the first player he pointed out to me was Ronaldinho, and from that moment onwards, I had an undying love for the Brazilian. He’s the player who has inspired me most in my career.
Despite the tough start, Aboubakar was soon called up by Cameroon coach Paul Le Guen and, despite limited international experience, taken to South Africa 2010.
"I played at the World Cup at the tender age of 18, making me one of the youngest players in the squad at the time,” he said.
Twelve years later Aboubakar is once again preparing to represent his country on the global stage – this time as captain. Since his international debut back in 2010, he has had lots of ups and downs. From the disappointing Brazil 2014 campaign, where he only made two appearances and failed to score in disheartening defeats by Croatia and Brazil, to the highs of the 2017 and 2021 AFCON campaigns.
Despite his many accolades over the years, Aboubakar stays true to his roots and is just as humble now as he was as a kid.
"Football is of huge importance in our country – it helps people forget their problems and brings smiles to their faces. Our duty as players is to give everything on the pitch and make the Cameroonian people proud. I’ve had the pleasure of sharing some great moments with the fans throughout my career. There’s still a lot more that I want to achieve, but equally I can’t underestimate what I have done so far and I’m truly grateful.”
Several African teams have reached the quarter-finals of a World Cup, perhaps most memorably the Cameroonian team of Italia ‘90.
Aboubakar believes that an African team will go all the way in the not-too-distant future, but he stresses that preparation is key.(FIFA)