Original article by Facoundo Patti
Thousands of miles from where his football journey began, Adnan Aziz is still chasing the same ambition: to earn his place among the Guépards of Benin.
For the 24-year-old forward, the road to senior international football has been anything but straightforward.
Born in Djougou, in the northern part of the Republic of Benin, on 1 January 2002, Aziz began his football education at Tchemabi FC before continuing his development with Pro Cittiglio.
What followed has been described a journey across borders and football cultures, taking him from West Africa to Europe and through several different leagues.
A career built on movement
Aziz’s first senior experience came in Benin with Soleil FC, where he made six official appearances in Ligue 1. It was the beginning of a career that would soon take him abroad.
Italy became one of his first European destinations before he moved to the Czech Republic, joining FK Králův Dvůr. There, he featured in five pre-season friendlies and made one official appearance.
France then became the next chapter.
At Angers MFC, Aziz recorded 64 official appearances, followed by another 28 official appearances with Olympique Saumur.
For a young player building a career away from home, every move brings a different challenge. New coaches, new teammates, new tactical ideas and, often, a new language. Aziz’s career has been shaped by that constant process of adaptation.
Back to Italy
His journey eventually brought him back to Italy.
Aziz joined Licata Calcio in Serie D, where he featured in four pre-season friendly matches. He later continued his Italian experience with ASD Juvenilia Roseto, making 48 official appearances in Promozione.
The numbers tell part of the story.
The rest is found in the distance travelled to collect them.
This has not been a conventional rise through one country’s football pyramid. Instead, Aziz has built his experience across different environments, learning to start again whenever a new opportunity arrived.
The setback
There have also been difficult moments. A knee injury interrupted his progress and forced him into a period of rehabilitation.
For any footballer, time away from the pitch can be one of the hardest tests. Training becomes recovery, matches become a target rather than a routine, and patience becomes part of the job.
Aziz eventually returned to the field and continued his pursuit of the next opportunity.
International ambition
Through all those moves, one connection has remained constant: Benin.
Aziz has already represented his country at youth level, including the U20 and U23 teams. With the U23 side, he has recorded three friendly appearances and scored one goal. Now the ambition is to make the step up to the senior national team.
The Guépards remain the target.
For Aziz, reaching the senior squad would represent more than another line on a football CV. It would bring together two parts of his story — the player who started out in Djougou and the footballer who has spent years developing his experience across Europe.
The next chapter
At 24, Aziz’s story is still being written. Benin. Italy. The Czech Republic. France. Then Italy again.
Different clubs, different footballing cultures and different challenges have all contributed to the player he is today.
The next opportunity could take him somewhere new.
But the destination he has in mind has remained the same.
The Guépards.
From the football pitches of Djougou to the changing rooms of European clubs, Adnan Aziz has spent years building towards that moment.
Now, he wants the next chapter to be written in the colours of Benin.
Photo: Adnan Aziz
