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Aimé Mabika

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Aimé Mabika
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-08-16) 16 August 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Lusaka, Zambia
Height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Lexington FC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2020 Kentucky Wildcats 62 (10)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018 Cincinnati Dutch Lions 7 (0)
2021 Fort Lauderdale CF 14 (0)
2021 → Inter Miami (loan) 2 (0)
2022–2023 Inter Miami 15 (0)
2022–2023 → Inter Miami II (loan) 6 (0)
2023–2024 Toronto FC 33 (0)
International career‡
2022– Zambia 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 September 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 March 2022

Aimé Mabika (born 16 August 1998) is a Zambian professional footballer who plays as a defender for the Zambia national team.

Early life

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Born in Zambia, Mabika moved to the United States at age eight with his family, settling in Lexington, Kentucky.[1][2] He played youth soccer with Lexington FC.[3] Attending high school at Henry Clay High School, Mabika was named the 2016 Gatorade High School Player of the Year.[4]

College career

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In 2016, Mabika began attending the University of Kentucky, where he would play for the men's soccer team, making the team as a walk-on.[5] He redshirted his first season in 2016, but was named to the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.[6]

On September 17, 2017, he scored his first collegiate goal, scoring a penalty kick against the New Mexico Lobos.[7] He led the team with two game-winning goals that season and finished tied for the team lead with three goals.[6][8][9] In 2017, he was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team, C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll.[6]

In 2018, he was named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week twice,[10][11] and was also named to the All-America Third Team,[12] the All-Southeast Region First Team,[13] the All C-USA First Team, C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll.[6]

In 2019, he was named team captain. On August 31, 2019, he scored a brace, netting two penalty kicks against the Albany Great Danes.[14] He was named the C-USA Player of the Year and C-USA Co-Defensive MVP,[15] was selected to the All-Southeast Region First Team, All-C-USA First Team, C-USA All-Tournament Team,[6] Scholar All-America first team, Scholar All-South Region first team, C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll.[16][17] After the season, he was selected to participate in the MLS College Showcase.[18]

In 2020, he was named to the All-Southeast Region First Team, C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll.[6] Over his four seasons, he scored 10 goals and added two assists in 62 appearances (53 starts), and helped the team record 28 shutouts.[19]

Club career

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In 2018, Mabika played for Premier Development League club Cincinnati Dutch Lions.[20]

At the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, Mabika was selected in the first round (26th overall) by Inter Miami CF.[21][22][23] In May 2021, he signed a professional contract with the second team Fort Lauderdale CF (later renamed Inter Miami II).[24] He made his professional debut on May 2, in a 2–1 win over Richmond Kickers.[25] With the second team, he regularly served as team captain.[26] On October 8, 2021, he joined the first team on a short-term loan during a roster shortage.[27] He made his Major League Soccer debut on October 9 against the New York Red Bulls.[28][29] On October 22, he signed a second short-term loan with the team.[30][31] In January 2022, he signed a permanent contract with the first team.[32] In April 2022, he was named to the MLS Team of the Week.[33]

In April 2023, he was acquired by Toronto FC in exchange for $100,000 of General Allocation Money and an additional $100,000 in conditional GAM, with Miami also retaining a 25% future sell-on percentage.[34][35][36] He made his debut for the club in a substitute appearance on 6 May 2023 against the New England Revolution.[37] Toronto declined Mabika's contract option following the 2024 season.[38]

International career

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Mabika was born in Zambia to Congolese parents.[39] By birth, he had both Zambian and Congolese citizenship,[40] however, upon obtaining his United States citizenship when he was 21, both his Zambian and Congolese citizenships were revoked automatically.[41] However, he would be able to re-obtain his Zambian citizenship without renouncing his American citizenship by making a declaration of loyalty to Zambia.[41]

In March 2022, he was called up to the Zambia national team for the first time, ahead of a series of friendlies.[42][43][44] Mabika debuted for Zambia in a friendly 3–1 win over the Congo on 25 March 2022,[45] however, he was unable to play in official matches due to his citizenship issue.[46] In January 2023, his naturalization process was finalized, allowing him to represent Zambia at international level in official competition,[47][48] with his passport finally arriving in March 2023.[49]

Career statistics

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As of match played 21 September 2024[50]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Playoffs National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cincinnati Dutch Lions 2018[20] Premier Development League 7 0 — — — — 7 0
Fort Lauderdale CF 2021 USL League One 14 0 — — — — 14 0
Inter Miami CF (loan) 2021 Major League Soccer 2 0 — — — — 2 0
Inter Miami CF 2022 15 0 1 0 2 0 — — 18 0
2023 0 0 — 0 0 — 0 0 0 0
Total 17 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 0
Inter Miami CF II (loan) 2022 MLS Next Pro 4 0 — — — — 4 0
2023 2 0 — — — — 2 0
Total 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Toronto FC 2023 Major League Soccer 21 0 — 1 0 — 1[a] 0 23 0
2024 12 0 — 4 0 — 1[a] 0 17 0
Total 33 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 2 0 40 0
Career total 77 0 1 0 7 0 0 0 2 0 87 0
  1. ^ a b Appearance in Leagues Cup

References

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  1. ^ Puppo, Melissa (1 November 2022). "Meet FLI's 2022 Men of Style". Fort Lauderdale Illustrated.
  2. ^ Marcum, Ellie (11 December 2020). "UK Soccer's Mabika Gives Back with Shoes for Africa". Kentucky Wildcats.
  3. ^ "UK Soccer Announces 2016 Recruiting Class". Kentucky Wildcats. 3 March 2016.
  4. ^ "Henry Clay Alum Aime Mabika 1st Round Pick MLS SuperDraft". Henry Clay High School. 22 March 2021.
  5. ^ Davidson, Neil (28 April 2023). "Newly acquired Toronto FC centre back Aime Mabika hard to miss at six foot six". Global News.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Aimé Mabika Kentucky profile". Kentucky Wildcats. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  7. ^ Most, Jake (17 September 2017). "Mabika's PK, Clean Sheet Give UK 1-0 Win at New Mexico". Kentucky Wildcats.
  8. ^ Cox, Ryan (8 October 2017). "Mabika's Last-Minute Winner Lifts UK over South Carolina". Kentucky Wildcats.
  9. ^ Most, Jack (4 November 2017). "Mabika's PK Goal Helps Kentucky Draw at Charlotte 1-1". Kentucky Wildcats.
  10. ^ Most, Jack (3 September 2018). "Mabika & Williams Sweep C-USA Players of the Week". Kentucky Wildcats.
  11. ^ Most, Jack (24 September 2018). "Aimé Mabika Named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week". Kentucky Wildcats.
  12. ^ Most, Jack (6 December 2018). "Williams, Facusse & Mabika Named Men's Soccer All-Americans". Kentucky Wildcats.
  13. ^ Most, Jack (5 December 2018). "Four Wildcats Named United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region". Kentucky Wildcats.
  14. ^ Link, Connor (31 August 2019). "Mabika Nets Two Penalty Kicks in Cats' 3-2 Triumph". Kentucky Wildcats.
  15. ^ Link, Connor (12 November 2019). "Mabika Named Player of the Year, Seven Cats Earn C-USA Honors". Kentucky Wildcats.
  16. ^ Link, Connor (18 December 2019). "Mabika Earns United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America Nod". Kentucky Wildcats.
  17. ^ Link, Connor (16 December 2019). "Mabika Named to United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-Region Team". Kentucky Wildcats.
  18. ^ Link, Connor (12 December 2019). "Aimé Mabika to Participate in Inaugural MLS College Showcase". Kentucky Wildcats.
  19. ^ Link]], Connor (21 January 2021). "Mabika Selected in First Round of MLS SuperDraft". Kentucky Wildcats.
  20. ^ a b "Aimé Mabika 2018 PDL Stats". USL League Two.
  21. ^ Fisher, Chris (22 January 2021). "Kentucky's Aimé Mabika selected in first round of MLS SuperDraft". 247Sports.
  22. ^ Geoghegan, Zack (21 January 2021). "UK Soccer star Aimé Mabika selected by Inter Miami CF in first round of MLS SuperDraft". Kentucky Sports Radio.
  23. ^ "Inter Miami CF Selects Penn, Mabika and Hafferty in 2021 MLS SuperDraft". Inter Miami CF. 21 January 2021.
  24. ^ "Aimé Mabika OSBD profile". OSBD Sports.
  25. ^ Villorin, Joshua (2 May 2021). "Match Recap: Fort Lauderdale CF Defeats Richmond Kickers 2-1 at Home". Inter Miami CF.
  26. ^ "Mabika's naturalization hits a snag". Zamfoot. 21 May 2022.
  27. ^ "Inter Miami CF Eligible for Extreme Hardship, Adds Aimé Mabika to Roster for New York Red Bulls Match". Inter Miami CF. 8 October 2021.
  28. ^ "New York Red Bulls 1, Inter Miami 0: Match recap". Miami Herald. 9 October 2021.
  29. ^ Windley, Alex (13 October 2021). "Aime Mabika Debuts As Referee Controversy Surrounds Inter Miami". Lemon City Live.
  30. ^ "Inter Miami CF Eligible for Extreme Hardship, Adds Aimé Mabika to Roster for FC Cincinnati Match". Inter Miami CF. 22 October 2021.
  31. ^ Panizo, Franco (22 October 2021). "Sources: Inter Miami looking to add Aime Mabika to roster again under Extreme Hardship rule". Miami Total Futbol.
  32. ^ Franca, Michael (13 January 2022). "Acosta and Mabika Signings Highlight Development Pathway". Inter Miami CF.
  33. ^ "Chipolopolo defender Mabika named in MLS team of the week". Zamfoot. 19 April 2022.
  34. ^ "Toronto FC acquire defender Aimé Mabika in exchange for GAM". Toronto FC. 25 April 2023.
  35. ^ Yenoukounme, Ezechiel (25 April 2023). "Transfert : Aime Mabika, nouveau joueur de Toronto FC" [Transfer: Aime Mabika, new player of Toronto FC]. Africa Foot United (in French).
  36. ^ Molinaro, John (27 April 2023). "Newcomer Aimé Mabika brings more than his size to Toronto FC". TFC Republic.
  37. ^ Karageorgos, Tomas (7 May 2023). "Toronto FC blanked by New England Revolution, lose first home game of season". Waking the Red.
  38. ^ "Toronto FC Announce Roster Moves | Toronto FC". torontofc.
  39. ^ Chimbulu, Buumba (14 March 2023). "Mabika may feature for Chipolopolo in AFCON fixtures, as Zambia sorts out nationality issues". Zambia Monitor.
  40. ^ Hockridge, Andrew (3 May 2023). "Evaluating Toronto FC's newest acquisitions: C.J. Sapong and Aimé Mabika". Waking the Red.
  41. ^ a b Phiri, Mutheliso (23 May 2022). "The case of Aime Mabika explained". Zambian Observer.
  42. ^ "Mabika eager to help lift Chipolopol's fotunes". African Football. 25 March 2022.
  43. ^ "Frankie Chisenga Musonda and Aime Mabika handed Chipolopolo call ups". Zamfoot. 21 March 2022.
  44. ^ "Early Bird: Mabika jets into Turkey ahead of Friday's international friendly match". Zamfoot. 22 March 2022.
  45. ^ "Mabika: We should build on this win". Zamfoot. 26 March 2022.
  46. ^ Chikenge, Calvin Kaumba (21 October 2022). "Revealed: Zambian Authorities snub Aime Mabika". Bola News.
  47. ^ Dube, Godfrey (27 January 2023). "Mabika's naturalisation process complete – Nkandu". News Diggers.
  48. ^ "Aime Mabika cleared to represent Zambia". Zamfoot. 27 January 2023.
  49. ^ "Mabika finally cleared and issued with a Zambian passport". Zamfoot. 6 March 2023.
  50. ^ Aimé Mabika at Soccerway
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