Chancel Mbemba Explained

Chancel Mbemba
Fullname:Chancel Mangulu Mbemba[1]
Birth Date:8 August 1994[2]
Birth Place:Kinshasa, Zaire
Height:1.82 m[3]
Position:Centre-back, full-back
Currentclub:Marseille
Clubnumber:99
Youthyears1:2006–2007
Youthclubs1:E.S. La Grace
Youthyears2:2007–2008
Youthclubs2:Mputu
Youthyears3:2008–2012
Youthclubs3:MK Etanchéité
Youthyears4:2012–2013
Youthclubs4:Anderlecht
Years1:2013–2015
Clubs1:Anderlecht
Caps1:63
Goals1:6
Years2:2015–2018
Clubs2:Newcastle United
Caps2:54
Goals2:1
Years3:2018–2022
Clubs3:Porto
Caps3:87
Goals3:5
Years5:2022–
Clubs5:Marseille
Caps5:61
Goals5:7
Nationalyears1:2012–
Nationalteam1:DR Congo
Nationalcaps1:85
Nationalgoals1:6
Club-Update:19 May 2024
Nationalteam-Update:9 June 2024

Chancel Mangulu Mbemba (born 8 August 1994) is a Congolese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or full-back for club Marseille and serves as captain for the DR Congo national team.

Mbemba began his professional career Anderlecht, where he won the Belgian Pro League in his debut season of 2013–14. A year later, he moved to Newcastle United, where he played in the Premier League and won the Championship in 2017. In four years at Porto, he won the Primeira Liga and Taça de Portugal double in 2020 and 2022.

A full international for DR Congo since 2012, Mbemba has earned over 80 caps and represented the country at five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, finishing third in 2015.

Early life

Mbemba grew up in Kinshasa in a family of nine children. His mother, Antoinette, is a former basketball player who represented DR Congo.[4] [5]

A 2013 report by CNN found that documents support four different dates of birth for Mbemba from 1988 to 1994, with the player saying himself that he was born in 1990; an anonymous member of the Congolese Association Football Federation said that his date of birth was changed to 1991 so that he would be eligible for the 2012 Olympics where players must be under 23.[6] Upon signing for Newcastle, he said that he was born in 1994 and that there was forensic proof.[7]

Club career

Anderlecht

After playing youth football for several clubs including E.S. La Grace and FC MK Etanchéité in Kinshasa, Mbemba joined Belgian club Anderlecht in 2012.[4] Upon moving, he mainly played with Anderlecht reserve and youth teams, and requested to have a bone scan to dispel rumours that he was older than he actually was.[6]

On 21 July 2013, Mbemba was an unused substitute as Anderlecht won the Belgian Super Cup 1–0 against Genk.[8] He made his debut a week later in their opening match of the Belgian Pro League season, a 3–2 home defeat to Lokeren.[9] He scored five goals in 35 games of a league-winning campaign, starting by concluding a 2–0 win at Mons on 18 October, a contribution to becoming the league's Player of the Month.[10]

Mbemba played in the 2014 Belgian Super Cup, a 2–1 win over Lokeren. he made 28 appearances during the 2014–15 season as they finished in third spot in the league, and runners-up in the 2014–15 Belgian Cup, losing 1–2 to Club Brugge in the final.[11]

Newcastle United

On 26 July 2015, Premier League side Newcastle United announced the signing of Mbemba.[12] Four days later, he signed a five-year contract with the club.[13] He made his debut on 9 August on the first day of the Premier League season, starting in a 2–2 home draw with Southampton.[14]

He scored his only goal for the club on 7 May 2017 against Barnsley in a 3–0 home win, on the same day that Newcastle clinched the EFL Championship title a year after relegation.[15]

Porto

On 23 July 2018, Primeira Liga side Porto signed Mbemba for a reported £7.14 million fee.[16] He made his debut on 31 October in a 4–2 home win over Varzim in the group stage of the Taça da Liga, with manager Sérgio Conceição sending out a completely different team to the previous league game.[17] Four days later he made his Primeira Liga bow as an 80th-minute substitute for striker Yacine Brahimi in a 2–0 victory at Marítimo;[18] he played only two more league games that season, one of which was a start in a 3–1 win over Nacional at the Estádio do Dragão on 7 January 2019.[19] He also played two matches for the reserve team in LigaPro.[20] [21]

Mbemba scored his first goal for the Dragons on 24 November 2019, opening a 4–0 home win over Vitória de Setúbal that qualified his team to the last 16 of the Taça de Portugal.[22] The following 7 March, he was on the scoreboard for the first time in the league, in a 1–1 draw with Rio Ave at the same venue;[23] his team ended the season as champions.[24] On 1 August 2020, Mbemba scored both goals of a 2–1 win over Benfica in the Taça de Portugal Final.[25]

Marseille

On 15 July 2022, Mbemba signed a three-year contract with Marseille on a free transfer.[26] He made his debut on 7 August as the Ligue 1 season began with a 4–1 home win over Reims,[27] and scored his first goal in his third game on 20 August to open a 2–1 win over Nantes also at the Stade Vélodrome.[28] On 7 September, he was sent off in a 2–0 Champions League loss at Tottenham Hotspur for a professional foul on Son Heung-min.[29]

International career

Mbemba made his debut for the DR Congo on 17 June 2012, in a 3–0 home win over the Seychelles at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa, in 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.[30] He was an unused member of Claude Le Roy's squad for the finals.[31] He was part of the squad that came third at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, and scored a penalty in the shootout win over the hosts for the bronze medal.[32]

On 13 October 2015, Mbemba scored his first international goal, a late long-distance winner in a 2–1 friendly against Gabon in Visé, Belgium.[33] He also went to the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017 and 2019; in the latter in Egypt he scored a late header in a 2–2 draw with Madagascar in the last 16, though his team lost in a shootout.[34]

Career statistics

Club

[35]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Anderlecht2013–14Belgian Pro League355005100406
2014–15281206210373
Total636200011310779
Newcastle United2015–16Premier League3301010350
2016–17Championship1210010131
2017–18Premier League901010110
Total54120300000591
Porto B2018–19Liga Portugal 22020
Porto2018–19Primeira Liga302010000060
2019–20262645050426
2020–21271401010010431
2021–22312601090472
Total87518480240101389
Marseille2022–23Ligue 13654052457
2023–2425200154406
Total617402068513
Career total267192641105592036131

International

[36]

Appearances and goals by national team and year!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
DR Congo201220
201320
201440
2015141
201670
2017112
201840
2019101
202020
202180
202220
202380
2024112
Total856

Scores and results list DR Congo's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mbemba goal.[36]

No.!scope="col"
DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 12 October 2015 Stade de la Cité de l'Oie, Visé, Belgium 2–1 2–1 Friendly
2 10 June 2017 Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, DR Congo 3–1 1–1 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
3 5 September 2017 Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, DR Congo 1–0 2–2 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 7 July 2019 Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt 2–2 2–2
2019 Africa Cup of Nations
5 10 January 2024 Baniyas Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 1–2 1–2 Friendly
6 2 February 2024 Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast 1–1 3–1 2023 Africa Cup of Nations

Honours

Anderlecht

2013–14

2013, 2014

Newcastle United

2016–17

Porto

2019–20[37] 2021–22

2019–20,[38] 2021–22

2018, 2020[39]

DR Congo[40]

Individual

2022–23[44]

2023[45]

2023[46]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed . Premier League . 1 September 2017 . 9 September 2017.
  2. Web site: Mbemba . Olympique de Marseille . 1 August 2022.
  3. Web site: Chancel Mbemba: Overview . Premier League . 1 August 2022.
  4. Web site: Mbemba: "Je veux marquer l'histoire d'Anderlecht". Mbemba: "I want to make a mark on the history of Anderlecht" . L'Avenir . 9 November 2013 . 23 July 2015 . fr . Xavier . Thirion.
  5. Web site: Newcastle United new boy Chancel Mbemba's remarkable back story marks him out as a future star . ChronicleLive . 23 July 2015 . 23 July 2015 . Douglas . Mark.
  6. News: Sinnott . John . Molina . Romain . Football's age fraud: FIFA probes player with 'four birthdays' . 30 June 2020 . CNN . 4 February 2013.
  7. News: Mbemba clarifies date of birth . 30 June 2020 . FourFourTwo . 13 August 2015.
  8. News: Da Silva Costa . Christophe . EN DIRECT: Déjà un titre pour les Mauves (1-0). LIVE: A title already for the Purples (1-0). 21 August 2022 . 7 sur 7 . 21 July 2013 . French.
  9. Web site: Congo DR – C. Mbemba – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway . Soccerway . 23 July 2015.
  10. News: Dosseh . Benoit . Chancel Mbemba : le congolais élu meilleur joueur du mois d'octobre de Pro League. Chancel Mbemba: the Congolese voted October's Player of the Month in the Pro League . 21 August 2022 . Africa Top Sports . 3 November 2013 . French.
  11. Web site: Club Brugge 2–1 Anderlecht . Soccerway . 22 March 2015 . 23 July 2015.
  12. Chancel Mbemba Deal Moves Closer . Newcastle United . 26 July 2015 . 27 July 2015.
  13. Mbemba Joins United . Newcastle United . 30 July 2015 . 30 July 2015.
  14. News: Sheen . Tom . Chancel Mbemba makes memorable entrance on Newcastle debut - arriving in a tuxedo . 30 June 2020 . The Independent . 10 August 2015.
  15. News: Newcastle 3–0 Barnsley. BBC. 7 May 2017. 8 May 2017.
  16. News: Chancel Mbemba: Porto sign defender from Newcastle . BBC Sport . 23 July 2018.
  17. News: Esteves Teixeira . Sofia . Mbemba titular no F. C. Porto frente ao Varzim. Mbemba starter for FC Porto against Varzim . 30 June 2020 . . 31 October 2018 . pt.
  18. News: Portugal : Porto et Brahimi assurent face à Maritimo . 30 June 2020 . Le Buteur . 4 November 2018 . fr.
  19. News: Esteves Teixeira . Sofia . Mbemba titular no F. C. Porto frente ao Nacional. Mbemba starter for FC Porto against Nacional . 30 June 2020 . Jornal de Notícias . 7 January 2019 . pt.
  20. News: FC Porto B-Académica, 3-0: Dragões vencem e deixam último lugar. FC Porto B 3–0 Académica: Dragons win and leave last place . 30 June 2020 . . 8 December 2018 . pt.
  21. News: Mbemba, João Pedro, Marius, Bruno Costa e André Pereira titulares no FC Porto B. Mbemba, João Pedro, Marius, Bruno Costa and André Pereira starters for FC Porto B. 30 June 2020 . Record . 3 March 2019 . pt.
  22. News: Dragões apuram-se para os oitavos da Taça de Portugal. Dragons qualify for the last 16 of the Taça de Portugal . 30 June 2020 . . 24 January 2019 . pt.
  23. News: Nervy times at the top . 30 June 2020 . The Portugal News . 13 March 2020.
  24. News: Juventus held by Sassuolo in thriller, Porto win Primeira Liga title . 16 July 2020 . The Guardian . Reuters . 16 July 2020.
  25. Web site: Porto defeat Benfica to win 17th Portuguese Cup. 1 August 2020. Yahoo! Sports. 8 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200808070159/https://sports.yahoo.com/porto-defeat-benfica-win-17th-portuguese-cup-221103259--sow.html. dead.
  26. News: TRANSFER WRAP: Ekitike to PSG, Mbemba to OM . 21 August 2022 . Ligue 1 . 18 July 2022.
  27. News: OM: New recruits step up! . 21 August 2022 . Ligue 1 . 10 August 2022.
  28. News: 10-man Marseille beat Nantes on Alexis' home debut . 21 August 2022 . Ligue 1 . 20 August 2022.
  29. News: McNulty . Phil . Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 Marseille . 7 September 2022 . BBC Sport . 7 September 2022.
  30. News: Eliminatoires-Can 2013: la RDC élimine les Seychelles, 3-0. 2013 ACN qualifiers: DR Congo eliminates the Seychelles, 3–0 . 30 June 2020 . Radio Okapi . 17 June 2013 . fr.
  31. News: Kobo . Kingsley . DR Congo publish Afcon 2013 squad . 30 June 2020 . Goal . 9 January 2013.
  32. News: I knew DR Congo would win Nations Cup shootout: Chancel Mbemba . 30 June 2020 . Zee News . 8 February 2015.
  33. News: Waugh . Chris . Watch Newcastle United defender Chancel Mbemba score 30-yard stunner for DR Congo . 30 June 2020 . Chronicle Live . 13 October 2015.
  34. News: Africa Cup of Nations: Madagascar beat DR Congo in shootout as dream goes on . 30 June 2020 . The Guardian . 7 July 2019.
  35. Web site: Chancel Mbemba. Soccerbase. 5 September 2015.
  36. Web site: Mbemba, Chancel. National Football Teams. 10 June 2017.
  37. Web site: FC Porto é o campeão nacional 2019/2020. FC Porto is the 2019/2020 national champion. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. Portuguese. 16 July 2020. 21 September 2021.
  38. Web site: Taça de Portugal: FC Porto conquista "dobradinha". Portuguese Cup: FC Porto wins "double". Deutsche Welle. Portuguese. 2 August 2020. 21 September 2021.
  39. Web site: FC Porto bate Benfica e conquista Supertaça pela 22ª vez. FC Porto beats Benfica and conquers Super Cup for the 22nd time. O Jogo. Portuguese. 23 December 2020. 21 September 2021.
  40. Web site: 2015 Nations Cup: Yannick Bolasie in DR Congo squad. BBC Sport. 9 January 2015. 4 June 2020.
  41. Web site: 14 February 2022 . Best of January: Mbemba won the Liga Portugal bwin Defender of the Month award . 18 October 2023 . Liga Portugal.
  42. Web site: Liga Nos Team of the season. 29 June 2022. A Bola. 29 June 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220629223413/https://www.abola.pt/nnh/2022-06-28/liga-taremi-fecha-onze-do-ano-da-liga-os-eleitos-por-treinadores-e-capitaes-fot/947237. dead.
  43. Web site: Messi, Rongier, Danso... L'équipe type de la saison de Ligue 1 . 2023-05-29 . L'Équipe . fr.
  44. Web site: 30 May 2023 . DR Congo’s Chancel Mbemba wins FRANCE 24-RFI award for best African player in Ligue 1 . 30 May 2023 . France 24.
  45. Web site: 2023-11-12 . Osimhen, Oshoala named African Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year at the CAF Awards 2023 . 2023-12-12 . CAF . en-GB.
  46. Web site: 14 February 2024 . CAF TSG Group releases TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nation Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Best XI . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240214121627/https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cup-of-nations/news/caf-tsg-group-releases-totalenergies-caf-africa-cup-of-nation-cote-d-ivoire-2023-best-xi/ . 14 February 2024 . 14 February 2024 . CAF Online . Confederation of African Football.