Central African Republic (CAR) international Habib Habibou has joined his 13th club as he looks to revive his career at Belgian second-tier club Lokeren.
The 32-year old, who was released by Israel top-flight side Maccabi Petak Tikva in July, passed his trial before penning a deal on an undisclosed fee.
Habibou, who formerly played for English side Leeds United, says he’s delighted to be back and believes his experience will help his new side earn promotion.
“It’s true I did not play competitive football the past few months, but I have maintained my condition,” Habibou told Lokeren’s website.
“I hope that with my experience and attacking qualities I can be of value to the team.”
Habibou has had stints with clubs in France, Qatar, Romania, Turkey as well as Belgian sides Charleroi, Zulte-Waregem and Gent.
The Bria-born attacker earned his first cap with CAR in October 2016 when he featured in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against DR Congo.
His return to Belgium meant the much-travelled and vastly-experienced Habibou had joined his 13th professional club in ten years, after stints in France, England, Qatar, Russia and Turkey.
Habibou came to limelight at Jupiter Pro League side SV Zulte Waregem where he scored 79 goals in 29 appearances before being loaned to English premiership side Leeds in 2013.
The Belgian side later decided to sell him to Gent less than two months later. During his stay, he scored 12 goals in 18 appearances for the Buffaloes before moving to Rennes in France.
Habibou departed in January 2016 to join Super Lig side Gaziantepspor on loan, where he played nine times but failed to find the back of the net for Gaziantep-base club before returning to Rennes.
A year later, in January 2017, Habibou joined French Ligue 2 side Lens on a two-year contract and after one season he moved to Doha where he joined Qatar SC before crossing to Israel to join Maccabi Petak Tikva.
Meanwhile, Habibou will be expecting to be named in the Les Fauves squad for the upcoming 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers by newly appointed coach Francois Zahoui.
The Ivorian coach was named on Tuesday just over a week after quitting Niger national team coaching job.
Zahoui replaces Spanish-Swiss manager Raoul Savoy, who left his post in March after failing to qualify CAR to the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Central Africa Republic are in Group E and they will open their campaign against Burundi and Mauritania in November.
Former African champions Morocco are the other sides in the group with the top two qualifying for the finals in Cameroon.
