Anatole Bertrand Abang (born 6 July 1996) is a Cameroonian professional

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby ...

who plays as a forward for

Al Bataeh Club Al Bataeh Club is a football club from Al Bataeh, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The team joined the UAE football league in 2019–20 season. Current squad ''As of UAE Division One:'' Pro-League Record Notes 2019–20 UAE football season w ...

Early life

Abang was born in

Yaoundé Yaoundé (; , ) is the capital of Cameroon and, with a population of more than 2.8 million, the second-largest city in the country after the port city Douala. It lies in the Centre Region of the nation at an elevation of about 750 metres (2,50 ...

, and started his career with local side AS Fortuna de Yaounde. His rights were subsequently purchased by Rainbow Bamenda.

Club career

New York Red Bulls

In early 2015 Abang went on trial with

New York Red Bulls The New York Red Bulls are an American professional soccer club based in the New York metropolitan area. The Red Bulls compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The club was established in October 1994 and be ...

of Major League Soccer. Abang impressed during the 2015 pre-season and on 5 March 2015 the Red Bulls announced that they had completed Abang's transfer from Rainbow FC. Abang made his professional debut for New York on 8 March 2015 coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 draw at Sporting Kansas City. On 6 June 2015 Abang scored his first goal for the senior team in 4–2 loss versus Houston Dynamo. On 28 June 2015 Abang assisted Chris Duvall on his 52nd-minute goal which helped Red Bulls to a 2–1 lead, in an eventual 3-1 derby victory over

New York City FC New York City Football Club is an American professional soccer club based in New York City that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), the highest level of American soccer, as a member of the league's Eastern Conference. The club is co-owned b ...

. A few days later, on 1 July 2015 Abang helped the Red Bulls to a victory in the

US Open Cup The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, commonly known as the U.S. Open Cup (USOC), is a knockout cup competition in men's soccer in the United States of America. It is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in that country. The 2023 U.S. Op ...

over local rival

New York Cosmos New York Cosmos may refer to * New York Cosmos (1970–1985), a team in the North American Soccer League (then the top-tier soccer league in the United States and Canada) * New York Cosmos (2010), a team playing since 2020 in the National Independ ...

, scoring the go ahead goal in a 4–1 victory. On 1 August 2015 Abang scored New York's final goal in a 3–1 away victory over Philadelphia Union.

Loan to New York Red Bulls II

During the 2015 season Abang was loaned to

New York Red Bulls II New York Red Bulls II is an American professional soccer team based in Montclair, New Jersey. They are the reserve team of the New York Red Bulls and play in MLS Next Pro, the third tier in the American soccer pyramid. History Red Bull New Yor ...

. On 4 April 2015 in his first match with the team Abang opened the scoring for New York Red Bulls II, scoring the first goal in club history in a 4–1 victory over

Toronto FC II Toronto FC II is a Canadian professional soccer team based in Toronto, Ontario, who play in MLS Next Pro, a third tier league of the United States soccer league system. It is the reserve team and minor league affiliate of Toronto FC as well a ...

. On 18 April 2015 Abang scored the equalising goal for New York Red Bulls II in a 1–1 draw against the

Charleston Battery The Charleston Battery are an American professional soccer club based in Charleston, South Carolina, and member of the USL Championship. Founded in 1993, the Battery are one of the oldest continuously operating professional soccer clubs in th ...

. On 17 May 2015 Abang scored the lone goal for New York Red Bulls II in another 1–1 draw against Charleston Battery. On 24 May 2015 Abang scored New York's opening goal in a 3–2 victory over

FC Montreal FC Montreal was a Canadian professional soccer team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada that played in the USL Championship, the third tier of the United States soccer league system. The team served as a reserve team of Major League Soccer (MLS) cl ...

. On 10 April 2016 Abang scored his first goal of the season, helping

to a 4–0 victory over

Bethlehem Steel FC Philadelphia Union II is an American professional soccer team based in Chester, Pennsylvania competing in MLS Next Pro. Founded in 2015 as Bethlehem Steel FC, the team is the official affiliate of the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer. T ...

. On 7 May 2016 Abang scored his second goal of the season in 3–1 victory over

Pittsburgh Riverhounds Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1999 and beginning play in 1999, the club plays in the Eastern Conference of the USL Championship, the second tier of the American so ...

Loan to Hobro IK

On 22 August 2016, it was announced by

Hobro IK Hobro Idræts Klub () is a professional association football club based in the town of Hobro, Denmark, that competes in the 1st Division, the second tier of the Danish football league system. Founded in 1913, it is known by the short names 'Hob ...

that they had acquired Abang on loan for the

2016–17 Danish 1st Division The 2016–17 Danish 1st Division season is the 21st season of the Danish 1st Division league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association. The division-champion, the runners-up and the third placed team are promoted to the 2017– ...

season. While with the club, Abang scored three goals in 10 league matches. The loan deal was cancelled six months before time and Abang went back to New York Red Bulls on 31 January 2017.

Loan to SJK

On 28 March 2017, it was announced by SJK that they had acquired Abang on loan until July 2017. On 10 May 2017, SJK announced that they had terminated Abang's loan deal.

Loan to Astra Giurgiu

On 9 August 2017, Abang was loaned to the Romanian first division club,

FC Astra Giurgiu Asociația Fotbal Club Astra Giurgiu (), commonly known as Astra Giurgiu or simply Astra, was a Romanian football club based in the city of Giurgiu, Giurgiu County. Founded in 1921 in Ploiești as ''Clubul Sportiv Astra-Română'', it spent the m ...

until July 2018. While with the Romanian side Abang appeared in 29 matches and scored 5 goals.

Nantong Zhiyun

On 19 February 2019, Abang transferred to

China League One The Chinese Football Association China League (), also known as China League One or Chinese Jia League (中甲联赛), is the second level of professional football in China. Above League One is the Chinese Super League. Prior to the formation of ...

newcomer

Nantong Zhiyun Nantong Zhiyun Football Club () is a professional Chinese football club that currently participates in the China League One division under licence from the Chinese Football Association (CFA). The team is based in Nantong, Jiangsu and their home ...

Sheriff Tiraspol

On 6 February 2020, Abang joined

FC Sheriff Tiraspol Fotbal Club Sheriff (russian: ФК Шериф Тирасполь), commonly known as Sheriff Tiraspol or simply Sheriff, is a Moldovan professional football club based in Tiraspol, a city located in the unrecognised breakaway state of Transnis ...

Keşla

On 26 December 2020, Abang signed a one-year contract with

Keşla FK Shamakhi FK ( az, Şamaxı Futbol Klubu, ) is an Azerbaijani professional association football, football club based in Shamakhi, that currently competes in the Azerbaijan Premier League. The club has won the Premier League title twice. History ...

. Abang left Keşla at the end of his contract.

International career

Abang has represented Cameroon at the Under-17 level, making his debut with the squad in 2012. He is also a part of Cameroon's Under-20 player pool. On 10 March 2016, Abang was called up to Cameroon's senior squad for Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

Honors

Club

;New York Red Bulls *

MLS Supporters' Shield The Supporters' Shield is an annual award given to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record, as determined by the MLS points system. The Supporters' Shield has been annually awarded at the MLS Supporters' Summit since ...

(2): 2015,

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the Unit ...

Career statistics

International goals

:''Scores and results list Cameroon's goal tally first.''

References

External links

Anatole Abang
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