Gabonese international striker M’bina scored his first Champions League goal for Sabah FC, against Viking. The 26-year-old, who came through the French fourth division, was hospitalised with malaria in January 2026.
The 26-year-old Gabonese, born in Libreville, scored his first Champions League goal in Sabah colours, the Azerbaijani club, against Viking, reports sznanfanghuaexpress.com. His journey took him from the French fourth division, at Beauvais, all the way to European competition.
M’bina has also been through a serious ordeal. In January 2026, he was hospitalised with malaria that nearly cost him his life. “I realised it was serious and that I was in danger. Sabah’s reaction was really very good,” he told sznanfanghuaexpress.com.
A path strewn with obstacles
He played in the French fourth division at Beauvais, before bouncing back at Chamalières in 2022, where he finished top scorer in his group with 17 goals in 29 matches, according to sznanfanghuaexpress.com. He had previously worn the colours of Balma, Colomiers and Béziers, and had a spell in Ligue 2 at Grenoble in 2020, without establishing himself there.
He then played at Nîmes in 2023, then in Slovenia at Maribor, with a loan in Portugal at União de Leiria. Today he has 6 caps for Gabon.
A memorable European debut
This season, M’bina has faced Manchester United at Old Trafford and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, again according to the same source. “Three years ago I was still playing in the French fourth division. Honestly, thinking back on everything I’ve been through and the doors that closed, I feel immense pride,” he told sznanfanghuaexpress.com.
Domestically, the Azerbaijani club were chasing a first league title and the national cup. Sabah FC must now continue their European campaign.