Béni Badibanga Explained

Béni Badibanga
Fullname:Béni Badibanga Diata
Birth Date:19 February 1996
Birth Place:DR Congo
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Forge FC
Clubnumber:39
Youthyears1:2004–2005
Youthclubs1:RRC de Waterloo
Youthyears2:2005–2008
Youthclubs2:RCS Brainois
Youthyears3:2008–2011
Youthclubs3:AFC Tubize
Youthyears4:2011–2015
Youthclubs4:Standard Liège
Years1:2015–2018
Clubs1:Standard Liège
Caps1:27
Goals1:1
Years2:2017
Clubs2:→ Roda JC (loan)
Caps2:6
Goals2:0
Years3:2018
Clubs3:→ Lierse (loan)
Caps3:10
Goals3:0
Years4:2018–2020
Clubs4:Waasland-Beveren
Caps4:53
Goals4:4
Years5:2020–2021
Caps5:26
Goals5:0
Years6:2022
Clubs6:Raja Casablanca
Caps6:8
Goals6:1
Years7:2022–2023
Clubs7:RAAL La Louvière
Caps7:22
Goals7:9
Years8:2023–
Clubs8:Forge FC
Caps8:19
Goals8:5
Nationalyears1:2015
Nationalteam1:Belgium U19
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2015
Nationalteam2:Belgium U21
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:15 June 2024
Nationalteam-Update:12 November 2015

Béni Badibanga Diata (born 19 February 1996) is a footballer who plays for Forge FC in the Canadian Premier League. Born in DR Congo, he represented Belgium at youth international level. He spent most of his career in Belgium, with over 100 appearances in the Belgian top flight and has also played professionally in Morocco and Canada.[1]

Early life

Badibanga was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[2] As his father was a businessman with a multinational Congolese company in the mining industry, he moved to London, England for a period, before moving to northern France near Lille.[3] He later moved to Belgium, where he began playing youth football with RRC de Waterloo.[4] He then joined RCS Brainois.[5] At age 12, he joined AFC Tubize. When he was 14, he was approached by Standard Liège, but chose not to join as he was not yet mentally prepared to leave home. The following year, he was approached again by Standard Liège as well as Anderlecht, and chose to join Standard Liège, as his brother played at Anderlecht and he did not want to be in his shadow.

Club career

In February 2015, he signed a professional contract with the Standard Liège first team.[6] [7] On 25 July 2015, he made his senior debut against KV Kortrijk in a league match.[8] In January 2017, he went on loan with Dutch Eredivisie club Roda JC.[9] At the end of January 2018, he was loaned to Lierse in the Belgian First Division B.[10] He left Standard Liège in the summer of 2018, having scored one goal and adding two assists in 37 appearances.[11]

In July 2018, he signed with Belgian First Division A side Waasland-Beveren.[12] [13]

In July 2020, Badibanga joined Belgian Pro League club Royal Excel Mouscron.[14] [15]

In January 2022, he signed with Moroccan club Raja Casablanca in the Botola.[16] In August 2022, he terminated his contract with the club by mutual consent.[17]

In September 2022, he signed with RAAL La Louvière in the third tier Belgian National Division 1.[18] In December 2022, it was announced that he would leave the club and would not play in the second half of the season.[19] [20] His departure was finalized in May 2023.[21]

In July 2023, Badibanga signed with Canadian Premier League club Forge FC.[22] [23] He made his debut for the club on 4 August 2023, in a substitute appearance against Cavalry FC.[24] On 19 August, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1-1 draw against the HFX Wanderers.[25] [26] On 28 October, he helped Forge win their fourth league title, scoring a goal in a 2–1 win over Cavalry FC in the final.[27] At the end of the season, he was named to the CPL Best XI.[28] On 10 July 2024, he scored a goal from midfield against Toronto FC in the 2024 Canadian Championship.[29] [30]

International career

Badibanga is eligible to play for DR Congo and Belgium.[31]

In 2015, he played for Belgium U19 in the 2015 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification and Belgium U21 in the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification.[32]

He was called up by the DR Congo national team for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.[33]

Personal life

He is the son of Samy Badibanga, the former Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[34] He is the cousin of fellow professional footballers Ziguy Badibanga and Luis Pedro Cavanda.[35]

He also works as a fashion model for American brand Fashion Nova.[36]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: AGR's High Press: How the midseason signing of Béni Badibanga instigated Forge's turnaround. 20 September 2023. Alexandre. Gangué-Ruzic. OneSoccer.
  2. Web site: Celebrating Black Excellence: Beni Badibanga. February 13, 2024. Forge FC.
  3. Web site: Béni Badibanga off to a torrid start – Looking to carry form into Valour FC match. Steve. Milton. April 26, 2024. Forge FC.
  4. Web site: Beni Badibanga : " La RDC, un choix définitif ". fr. Beni Badibanga: "The DRC, a definitive choice" . 9 September 2020. Football 365. Patrick. Juillard.
  5. Web site: Béni Badibanga : "Je soutiens mes aînés dès que j'en ai l'occasion". Béni Badibanga : " I support my elders whenever I have the opportunity ". September 15, 2019. fr. Leopard Leader. Scott. Kadina.
  6. Web site: Standard : Beni Badibanga passe pro. Standard : Beni Badibanga turns pro. February 19, 2015. Isidore. Akouete. Africa Top Sports. fr.
  7. Web site: Beni Badibanga passe pro au Standard. fr. Beni Badibanga turns pro at Standard. RTBF.
  8. Web site: Foot portrait : Découvrez Beni Badibanga – une autre etoile Congolaise !!!. Foot portrait: Discover Beni Badibanga – another Congolese star!!!. fr. Voila.
  9. Web site: Beni Badibanga : Le Belgo-Congolaise prêté au Pays-Bas. Beni Badibanga: The Belgian-Congolese loaned to the Netherlands. January 27, 2017. Isidore. Akouete. Africa Top Sports. fr.
  10. Web site: Le Standard prête Beni Badibanga au Lierse. Standard lends Beni Badibanga to Lierse. fr. RTBF.
  11. Web site: Ce qu'il a manqué à Beni Badibanga au Standard. Pierre. Ghislain. What Beni Badibanga missed at Standard. May 3, 2020. Walfoot. fr.
  12. Web site: Beni Badibanga quitte définitivement le Standard et signe à Waasland-Beveren. Beni Badibanga leaves Standard for good and signs for Waasland-Beveren. fr. July 2, 2018. RTBF. Cédric. Lizin.
  13. Web site: Beni Badibanga naar Waasland-Beveren. Beni Badibanga to Waasland-Beveren. Dutch. 3 July 2018. Standard Liège.
  14. Web site: Officiel: Beni Badibanga signe aussi à l’Excel Mouscron. 20 July 2020. Official: Beni Badibanga also signs for Excel Mouscron. Le Soir. fr.
  15. Web site: Beni Badibanga devrait rejoindre l’Excel Mouscron. Beni Badibanga should join Excel Mouscron. fr. July 18, 2020. L'Avenir.
  16. Web site: Beni Badibanga rejoint le Raja de Marc Wilmots. Beni Badibanga joins Marc Wilmots' Raja. January 31, 2022. RTL Info. fr.
  17. Web site: Transferts : séparation à l’amiable entre le Raja et les joueurs Beni Badibanga et Kadima Kabango. Transfers: amicable separation between Raja and players Beni Badibanga and Kadima Kabango. 16 August 2022. Le Matin. Abderrahman. Ichi. fr.
  18. Web site: Officiel : un ancien du Standard rejoint la RAAL. Official: a former Standard member joins the RAAL. Walfoot. 20 September 2022. Antoine. Bourlon. fr.
  19. Web site: N1 - Beni Badibanga n'est plus un joueur de la RAAL: "Il y a eu des divergences" (+ point mercato). N1 - Beni Badibanga is no longer a RAAL player: “There were differences” (+ mercato point). SudInfo. 30 December 2022. fr.
  20. Web site: Beni Badibanga (ex-Standard, ex-Mouscron) and RAAL, it's over. Beni Badibanga (ex-Standard, ex-Mouscron) et la RAAL, c'est fini. fr. 30 December 2022. La Dernière Heure. Nathalie. Dumont.
  21. Web site: La RAAL officialise neuf départs dont Beni Badibanga. The RAAL formalizes nine departures including Beni Badibanga. 31 May 2023. fr. La Dernière Heure. Nathalie. Dumont.
  22. Web site: Forge FC sign international attacker Beni Badibanga. July 27, 2023. Forge FC.
  23. Web site: Forge Adds Belgian Forward Beni Badibanga. July 27, 2023. Northern Tribune. John. Jacques.
  24. Web site: Highlights: Cavalry FC 3-0 Forge FC — CPL Match #70. August 4, 2023. Canadian Premier League. Mitchell. Tierney.
  25. Web site: Canadian Premier League weekly roundup: CPL Matchday 20 — Vancouver FC bag shock BC derby win, Cavalry back on top. Adam. Palermo. Waking the Red. August 21, 2023.
  26. Web site: Match Analysis: Badibanga stunner bags point for Forge vs. Halifax Wanderers. August 19, 2023. Canadian Premier League. Charlie. O'Connor-Clarke.
  27. Web site: Tierney . Mitchell . October 28, 2023 . HIGHLIGHTS + ANALYSIS: Forge wins 2023 North Star Cup, defeating Cavalry to lift fourth playoff crown (Oct. 28, 2023) . October 29, 2023 . OneSoccer.
  28. Web site: Canadian Premier League Best XI fuelled by Gatorade: 2023 CPL stars honoured. December 20, 2023. Canadian Premier League.
  29. Web site: Badibanga banger gives Forge FC the lead against Toronto FC in Canadian Championship semifinal. 10 July 2024. Canadian Premier League.
  30. Web site: 'We need players like Badibanga': Forge FC attacker putting on a show this season in Hamilton. July 15, 2024. Mitchell. Tierney. Canadian Premier League.
  31. Web site: Entre les Diables Rouges et Léopards, Beni Badibanga fait un choix de cœur !. Between the Red Devils and Leopards, Beni Badibanga makes a heartfelt choice!. fr. Leopards Actu. September 10, 2020. Jean-Claude. Bisimwa Mirindi.
  32. Web site: The Daily Drool: Beni Badibanga. September 4, 2017. Headbands and Heartbreak.
  33. Web site: CAN 2021 (Q) : la liste élargie de la RDC contre l’Angola avec Disasi !. CAN 2021 (Q): the extended list of the DRC against Angola with Disasi. Afrik-foot. 6 March 2020. fr.
  34. Web site: Le premier ministre de la RDC Samy Badibanga est le père d'un international Belge du Standard de Liège. DRC Prime Minister Samy Badibanga is the father of a Belgian international from Standard de Liège. 18 November 2016. Ba Sanga Ya Congo Kinshasa. fr.
  35. Web site: Béni Badibanga : « L’objectif du Forge FC cette année? Tout gagner ! ». Béni Badibanga: “Forge FC’s objective this year? Win it all! ». fr. April 17, 2024. Canadian Premier League. Quentin. Parisis.
  36. Web site: The creative life of a Forge attacker. The Hamilton Spectator. 21 September 2023. Steve. Milton.

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