Aimé Mabika

Aimé Mabika (born 16 August 1998) is a Zambian professional footballer who plays for the Major League Soccer club Inter Miami CF and the Zambia national team.

Aimé Mabika
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-08-16) 16 August 1998
Place of birth Zambia
Height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Inter Miami
Number 12
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 4 (0)
National team
2022– Zambia 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 06:03, 17 April 2022 (UTC)

Career

College and amateur

Mabika attended the University of Kentucky in 2016 to play college soccer. He redshirted his freshman season, before going on to play four seasons between 2017 and 2020, making 62 appearances for the Wildcats, scoring 10 goals and tallying 2 assists. Mabika also earned C-USA All-Freshman Team honors in 2017, United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region first team and All-C-USA first team honors in 2018, and was named Named C-USA Player of the Year, C-USA Co-Defensive MVP and All-C-USA first team honors in 2019.[1]

In 2018, Mabika also made 7 appearances for USL PDL side Cincinnati Dutch Lions.[2]

Professional

On 21 January 2021, Mabika was selected 26th overall in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by Inter Miami.[3] On 2 May, Mabika signed for Miami's USL League One affiliate side Fort Lauderdale CF, and made his professional debut the same day in a 2–1 win over Richmond Kickers.[4]

On 9 October, Mabika was promoted to the Inter Miami squad and made his Major League Soccer debut in a 1–0 loss to New York Red Bulls.[5]

On 13 January 2022, Mabika signed permanently with the Inter Miami first team.[6]

International career

Mabika debuted for the Zambia national team in a friendly 3–1 win over the Congo on 25 March 2022.[7]

Personal life

Mabika was born in Zambia to Congolese parents. His parents moved him and his family to Lexington, Kentucky, in the United States when he was 8 years old.[8]

References
  1. "Aimé Mabika - Men's Soccer". University of Kentucky Athletics.
  2. "Cincinnati Dutch Lions - 2018 Regular Season - Roster - #6 - Aimé Mabika - M". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  3. "Inter Miami CF Selects Penn, Mabika and Hafferty in 2021 MLS SuperDraft | Inter Miami CF". intermiamicf.
  4. "MATCH RECAP: Fort Lauderdale CF Defeats Richmond Kickers 2-1 at Home | Inter Miami CF". intermiamicf.
  5. intermiamicf. "Inter Miami CF Eligible for Extreme Hardship, Adds Aimé Mabika to Roster for New York Red Bulls Match | Inter Miami CF". intermiamicf. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
  6. "Inter Miami sign defender Aimé Mabika, midfielder George Acosta | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer.
  7. "Zambia vs. Congo - 25 March 2022". Soccerway. 2022-03-25. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  8. "UK Soccer's Mabika Gives Back with Shoes for Africa". University of Kentucky Athletics.
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