Chancel Mbemba has had some week. The defender scored a late winner against Cameroon in the semi-final of the African play-off for the World Cup qualification tournament. Captain of the DR Congo national team, it was Mbemba who then stepped up to score the decisive penalty in the final to knock Nigeria out and send the DRC to the final qualification tournament. It will be some achievement if the side can return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974.
Anderlecht can certainly take some pride in seeing a player who broke into senior football with the Mauves shining for his country at the highest level. Mbemba has written himself into Congolese footballing folklore with the two goals and it all began in Belgium. Mbemba broke into the Anderlecht first time after joining from MK Etnacheite in Kinshasha. Mbemba helped Anderlecht win the league in his first season, scoring five goals in 35 games a they lifted the trophy at the end of the 2013/2014 season. Mbemba would only pay one more season for Anderlecht before being snapped up by Newcastle.
Mbemba is just one of a number of DRC players to have made their name in Belgium before going on to have great careers. Not all who are eligible to represent the Leopards choose to do so. Given the colonial history between the two countries, others have gone on to represent the Red Devils instead of the DRC. Mbemba, after leaving Anderlecht, struggled to become a regular at Newcastle. He found his form again in Portugal with giants Porto, going on to win two league titles and two domestic cups.
Mbemba, still only 31, has gone on to play in France for the past few seasons with Marseille and most recently Lille. While he has had a decent career at club level, if the former Anderlecht defender can help the DRC make next summers World Cup, he will be mainly remembered for his exploits while wearing the blue shirt of the Leopards.
GBeNeFNย |ย Ben Jackson
