Mabululu says farewell to Al Ahli Tripoli amid rumors of Egypt return

Charismatic Angolan forward Agostinho Cristóvão Paciência, best known as Mabululu, has departed Libyan champions Al Ahli Tripoli with rumors indicating a return to the top flight of Egypt.

 

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The 33-year-old veteran and Al Ahli came to a mutual decision to terminate his contract and all signs point to a return to the Egyptian Nile League, where he took his club and national team career to the next level. Rwanda national team captain and midfielder Djihad Bizimana also departed the club to become a free agent.

Egyptian media indicates that Mabululu will return to Al Ittihad Alexandria, with Cairo newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm reporting that the striker has already signed an agreement to return to the club. Between 2021 and 2024, he scored 43 goals in 85 matches across all competitions for the club popularly known as Al Ittihad Alex by its supporters.

Al-Masry Al-Youm reports, based on conversations with Al Ittihad Alexandria president Mohamed Ahmed Salama, that a deal has already been agreed between the club and the striker with paperwork already sent for the Angolan to sign. Ittihad have endured an awful 2025-26 season so far, with only 11 points from 15 matches to leave them second from bottom on the league table.

Mabululu did not leave Al Ahli Tripoli because of poor performances, in fact quite the opposite. He was the top scorer in the 2024-25 Libyan Premier League with 19 goals throughout their title-winning campaign.

Mabululu’s performances at the club revived his international career with the Angola national team, with a return to the Palancas Negras arriving after leading the Egyptian top flight with 16 goals during the 2022-23 season. His inspired club form set the stage for him to be selected to lead the Angolan attack at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where his three goals played a major role in a run to the quarterfinals.

R1? R2? More like Mabululu. 🎯🇦🇴

Does he get your vote for Goal of the Year? (https://t.co/cYYdRIdVTX) 🗳️#CAFAwards2024 pic.twitter.com/bmtji0sfUE

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 4, 2024

Before his time at Ittihad, Mabululu’s reputation was that of a nomadic goal scorer in Angolan club football. He featured for numerous clubs including current Angolan club champions Petro de Luanda but his best years came with Petro’s rivals Primeiro de Agosto, where he led the top flight Girabola in goal during the 2019 season to spark interest abroad.

If the Al Ittihad president’s prediction comes to fruition, it is only a matter of time before the club formally announces their new prized signing after Al Ahli Tripoli officially confirmed the striker’s departure on social media.