Super Eagles battle DR Congo’s inspirational Captain Mbemba, player Nigeria must watch
By Uzor Odigbo
As Super Eagles prepare for Sunday’s FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off final against DR Congo in Rabat, one name stands out in the Congolese lineup, he is Chancel Mbemba the captain.
For the Super Eagles, stopping the 30-year-old defence marshal could prove just as important as breaking down the Congolese attack.
He was in the DR Congo team that beat the Super Eagles in a friendly match played at the Stade de la Cité de l’Oie, Visé in Belgium in 2015.
Mbemba, the inspirational captain of the Leopards, reached a historic milestone last Thursday when he earned his 100th international cap in DR Congo’s semi-final victory over Cameroon. And he marked the occasion in heroic fashion.
With the match heading for extra time, the former Olympique Marseille defender stepped up in the final seconds of added time, smashing home the only goal of the game and sending DR Congo into Sunday’s final.
He delivered that decisive moment after playing the entire second half under the shadow of a possible expulsion, having been booked before halftime.
His performance embodied the grit and resilience that have defined this Congolese generation qualities Nigeria must be wary of.
“I am experiencing this moment thanks to the work, rigour and discipline that I strive to apply every day. Nothing has been easy, but each step has made me stronger,” Mbemba wrote on his social media handle, as reported by DR Congo daily Actualité.
For Nigerian fans, Mbemba’s influence is not unfamiliar.
He has faced Nigeria several times across youth and senior categories, always displaying calm leadership and a knack for rising in big moments.
Coming through the ranks at FC MK in Kinshasa, Mbemba represents a rarity in Congolese football — a player developed entirely on home soil who rose to elite European status.Football
