Vincent Aboubakar Absent as Lorient Face Evian in Preseason Friendly
Cameroonian striker Vincent Aboubakar will sit out FC Lorient’s preseason clash against Ligue 1 side Evian Thonon Gaillard on Wednesday evening in Pontivy, with the Indomitable Lion still easing his way back to full fitness after a post-World Cup break.
According to L’Équipe, Aboubakar only returned to training last week following Cameroon’s early exit from the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. With just a few sessions under his belt, the Lorient coaching staff deemed him not yet ready for match action. Fellow player Cheick Touré will also be absent.
The match marks an important step in Lorient’s preseason schedule as they prepare to face top-flight competition. Head coach Sylvain Ripoll emphasized the importance of both performance and results at this stage of the summer campaign.
“We’re entering the final stretch of our preparations with these matches against Ligue 1 sides,” Ripoll said via the club’s official website. “In friendlies, there are two aspects: the content and the results. We’ve seen both good and bad things in terms of play. Now, we need positive results to build momentum.”
After facing Evian, Lorient will next take on FC Nantes, a fixture that could see Aboubakar return to the squad if his fitness improves.
