Rumor: Anatole Abang's trial with Etoile du Sahel did not work out

Once A Metro does not encourage anyone to rely on unsourced statements on Twitter for information, but in the case of Anatole Abang it may be necessary to make an exception.

The Cameroonian forward is currently on loan to nowhere: an unorthodox transfer about which the New York Red Bulls and MLS are inclined to say nothing at all. If the entities that technically hold his contract and playing rights aren't willing to say where he is or what he is up to - not, traditionally, vexing or controversial questions - then it is understandable that the threshold for Abang information quickly drops to "pretty much anything that is out there".

In this case, @ParlonsFoot237 - a Twitter account that primarily passes on news about Cameroonian soccer players - reports that Abang's trial with Tunisian club Etoile du Sahel has ended, and Abang will not be joining the team.

Après des essais non concluants, l’attaquant international Camerounais Anatole Abang ne s’engagera pas avec l’Etoile Sportive du Sahel. pic.twitter.com/sFjcZoBbah

— Parlons Foot 237 (@ParlonsFoot237) March 10, 2025

If true (and beyond the lack of any obvious source, there's no particular reason not to believe it; ParlonsFoot237 doesn't appear to be in the business of fabricating information about Cameroonian players even many Cameroonians would struggle to identify), then it is further discouraging news for Abang.

Back in January, he was a player training with his national team, hoping for a call-up to the squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, and attached to promotion-chasing Hobro IK in Denmark's First Division. But he missed the cut for AFCON (Cameroon won the tournament); his loan to Hobro was terminated; it was reported he wouldn't be returning to MLS; a move to Naestved didn't work out - and now he is once again seeking a place to play. And, unsurprisingly, he was not named to the latest Cameroon squad.

Abang won his first cap for Cameroon in March, 2016. He's fallen a long way since then. Hopefully, he's back playing pro soccer and challenging for a return to his national team soon enough.