Habib Habibou

Mouhamadou Habib Habibou (born 16 April 1987) is a Central African professional footballer who plays as a striker.

Habib Habibou
Habibou in 2016.
Personal information
Full name Mouhamadou Habib Habibou
Date of birth (1987-04-16) 16 April 1987
Place of birth Bria, Central African Republic
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Paris Saint-Germain
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2010 Charleroi 68 (16)
2007 → Tubize (loan) 11 (12)
2008 → Steaua București (loan) 8 (1)
2010–2013 Zulte Waregem 76 (29)
2013 → Leeds United (loan) 4 (0)
2014 Gent 18 (12)
2014–2017 Rennes 27 (3)
2016 → Gaziantepspor (loan) 9 (0)
2017 Lens 13 (7)
2017–2018 Qatar SC 9 (1)
2018–2019 Maccabi Petah Tikva 8 (1)
2019–2020 Lokeren 10 (1)
2020 Politehnica Iași 5 (0)
National team‡
2016–2018 Central African Republic 2 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:40, 24 August 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21:30, 31 January 2017 (UTC)

Club career

Early career

Habibou started his career with Ligue 1 club Paris Saint Germain progressing through the youth setup. After failing to break into the first team he moved to Belgian club R. Charleroi S.C.. During his spell at Charleroi he joined Tubize on loan in 2007 scoring 10 goals in just 13 appearances, his form led to him earning a loan move to Romanian side Steaua București in 2008.

Zulte Waregem

In 2010, Habibou joined fellow Belgian side S.V. Zulte Waregem from Charleroi. he was given the squad number 7 shirt. In 2011, Habibou joined English side Brighton & Hove Albion on trial, In December 2011 he also had a trial spell at West Ham United,[1] however he stayed at Zulte Waregem.[2]

After scoring six goals in 13 games in the first half of the 2012–13 season, Habibou interested Premier League side Queens Park Rangers and joined them on trial, also training with Leeds United.[3] After QPR signed French international striker Loïc Rémy the move for Habibou was put on the backburner as he edged closer to a move.[4] With Leeds striker Luciano Becchio handing in a transfer request, Habibou was lined up as a replacement for Becchio in the January window.[5]

Leeds United

On 31 January 2013, transfer deadline day, Habibou completed his move to Leeds United on a six-month loan with the option to make the move permanent.[6] Habibou made his debut as a second-half substitute in Leeds' 1–0 defeat against Cardiff City on 2 February.[7] Habibou's only start came in Leeds' Yorkshire Derby against Huddersfield Town.

On 3 May, Leeds announced that they would not be making Habibou's loan deal permanent.[8]

Later career

On 1 September 2014, transfer deadline day, Habibou joined Rennes on a three-year deal.[9] After 26 appearances and 3 goals in his first season with Rennes, Habibou departed in January 2016 to join Süper Lig team Gaziantepspor on loan. He played nine times but failed to score for the Gaziantep-based club before returning to Rennes. A year later, in January 2017, Habibou joined Ligue 2 side Lens on a two-year contract.[10]

International career

Habibou was called up to the Central African Republic for 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Burkina Faso on 14 October 2012.[11] He made his debut in an AFCON qualifying 4–1 loss to DR Congo national football team on 4 September 2016.[12]

Career statistics

Club
As of 31 January 2017.[13]
Club statistics
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lens 2016–17 Ligue 2 5400——0000
Total 0000——0000
Career total 0000——0000
  1. Includes the Coupe de France.
  2. Includes the Coupe de la Ligue.

International
As of 18 November 2018.[13]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Central African Republic
201610
201700
201811
Total21

International goals
Scores and results list Central African Republic's goal tally first.[14]
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.18 November 2018Stade Huye, Butare, Rwanda Rwanda1–12–22019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Trivia

In 2010, during a Zulte Waregem game against Lokeren, Habibou grabbed and threw a duck over advertising hoardings because it had wandered onto the field.[15]

References
  1. "Habib Habibou training with West Ham". Sky Sports. 7 December 2011.
  2. "Leeds and Queens Park Rangers both considering bids for striker Habib Habibou". Sky Sports. 11 January 2013.
  3. "Zulte Waregem striker Habib Habibou admits to being in talks with English club". Sky Sports. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  4. "Loic Remy rather than Habib Habibou to QPR". Sport Lavenir. 16 January 2013.
  5. "Squad". www.leedsunited.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  6. "HABIBOU HAS THE CHANCE TO IMPRESS". Leeds United. 31 January 2013.
  7. "Leeds Vs Cardiff". BBC Sport. 2 February 2013.
  8. "10 PLAYERS NOT OFFERED NEW DEALS". Leeds United Official Website. 3 May 2013.
  9. "Habib Habibou rejoint le SRFC" (in French). Stade Rennais. 1 September 2014.
  10. "Officiel : Habib Habibou rejoint les rangs lensois !" (in French). RC Lens. 31 January 2017. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  11. "Central African Republic drops captain". Supersport. 9 October 2012.
  12. http://www.cafonline.com/fr-fr/competitions/qcan2017.aspx/MatchDetails?MatchId=nC%2fKnLtstKL212uKijbq5trIiWwK2PFu8WgJ6EY1hGDjpM9Y05DdGZOxZiEzwWs5
  13. "Habib Habibou profile". Soccerway. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  14. "Habibou, Habib". National Football Teams. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  15. "Owls, bats, the Highbury squirrel and kangaroos: it's the top 10 animal pitch invasions!". www.talksport.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 December 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
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