Dieumerci Mbokani
Mbokani with Dynamo Kyiv in 2013
Personal information
Full name Dieudonné Mbokani Bezua[1]
Date of birth (1985-11-22) 22 November 1985 (age 38)
Place of birth Kinshasa, Zaire
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Noah
Number 25
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004 Bel'Or 23 (16)
2005–2007 TP Mazembe 72 (67)
2006–2007 → Anderlecht (loan) 9 (4)
2007–2010 Standard Liège 87 (39)
2010–2011 Monaco 10 (1)
2011 → VfL Wolfsburg (loan) 7 (0)
2011–2013 Anderlecht 53 (33)
2013–2018 Dynamo Kyiv 54 (25)
2015–2016 → Norwich City (loan) 29 (7)
2016–2017 → Hull City (loan) 12 (0)
2018–2021 Antwerp 91 (43)
2021–2022 Kuwait SC 3 (3)
2022–2023 Beveren 23 (14)
2023– Noah 10 (2)
International career‡
2005–2022 DR Congo 49 (22)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:35, 18 February 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:54, 29 March 2022 (UTC)

Dieudonné "Dieumerci" Mbokani Bezua (born 22 November 1985) is a Congolese professional footballer who plays as a striker for Noah. He was captain of the DR Congo national football team.

He has previously played for TP Mazembe, Anderlecht, VfL Wolfsburg, Monaco, Standard Liège, Norwich City, Hull City, Dynamo Kyiv, Al-Kuwait and Beveren.

Club career

Mbokani began his career at local side Bel’or and was a league topscorer in the 2004 season with 16 goals.[2][3] Then he moved to TP Mazembe.[3]

In the 2006–07 season, he made nine appearances for Anderlecht[3] and scored four goals, including a hat-trick against Beveren on 7 May 2007. In 2007, he joined Standard de Liège and scored 35 goals in 81 league appearances.

On 30 July 2010, Mbokani signed a deal with French side AS Monaco, after spurning reported interest from Liverpool, for a fee in the region of €7 million.[4][5]

After failing to impress in Ligue 1, on 9 August 2011, he signed a contract with Anderlecht for a reported fee of €3 million, stating that he looked forward to playing together again with his friend Milan Jovanović.[6] The start of his spell at Anderlecht was dramatic, first injuring himself during one of his first training sessions, meaning he would be sidelined for at least two months.[7] On 21 June 2013, Mbokani officially signed a contract with the Ukrainian club FC Dynamo Kyiv.[3] On 14 July 2013, he scored his first goal in the very first game of the Ukrainian Premier League against Volyn Lutsk[citation needed] during the first half, which ended 1–1.

On 31 August 2015, Mbokani was loaned out to English club Norwich City.[8]

On 31 August 2016, Mbokani was loaned out to English club Hull City.[9] Mbokani made his debut on 17 September 2016 when he came off the bench, after 77-minutes, as a replacement for Abel Hernández in a 4–1 loss at home to Arsenal.[10]

On 20 June 2017, Mbokani was close to completing a transfer to Greek powerhouse Olympiacos but the deal did not ultimately go ahead as the player failed his medical.[11]

In August 2018 he signed a one-year contract with Belgian club Royal Antwerp.[12] He extended his contract with the club in June 2019.[13]

On 14 August 2023, Armenian Premier League Noah announced the signing of Mbokani.[14]

International career

Mbokani represented the DR Congo at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and 2015, helping them to third place at the latter tournament.

Mbokani was caught up in the 2016 Brussels bombings, alongside his international teammate Cédric Bakambu. Though both escaped unscathed, Mbokani was reportedly left "shaken".[15][16] In the aftermath of this, after being sanctioned for missing a game as a result, he retired from international football with 31 caps.[17][18] However, he returned to DR Congo's squad for the 2017 Cup of Nations in Gabon,[19] and he was recalled to the national team in March 2019, although he withdrew due to injury.[20]

Personal life

Mbokani was born in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, then called Zaire. The name "Dieumerci" means "Thank God" in French.

In August 2011, his five-month-old son, David Mbokani, died of a cardiac arrest in his sleep.[21]

Career statistics

Mbokani (right) playing for Dynamo Kyiv in 2014

Club

As of 29 November 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Anderlecht (loan) 2006–07 Belgian First Division 9 4 0 0 — — — 9 4
Standard Liège 2007–08 Belgian First Division 32 15 0 0 — — — 32 15
2008–09 31 17 0 0 — 10[c] 3 — 41 20
2009–10 Belgian Pro League 24 7 1 0 — 12 3 1[d] 0 38 10
Total 87 39 1 0 0 0 22 6 1 0 111 45
Monaco 2010–11 Ligue 1 10 1 0 0 1 0 — — 11 1
VfL Wolfsburg (loan) 2010–11 Bundesliga 7 0 0 0 — — — 7 0
Anderlecht 2011–12 Belgian Pro League 26 14 0 0 — 5[e] 1 — 31 15
2012–13 27 19 2 1 — 8[f] 6 1[d] 1 38 27
Total 53 33 2 1 0 0 13 7 1 1 69 42
Dynamo Kyiv 2013–14 Ukrainian Premier League 25 13 2 1 — 6[e] 2 — 33 16
2014–15 8 3 1 0 — 3[e] 0 1[g] 0 13 3
2017–18 21 9 2 0 — 7[h] 3 1[g] 0 31 12
Total 54 25 5 1 0 0 16 5 2 0 77 31
Norwich City (loan) 2015–16 Premier League 29 7 0 0 1 0 — — 30 7
Hull City (loan) 2016–17 Premier League 12 0 0 0 2 0 — — 14 0
Antwerp 2018–19 Belgian Pro League 32 13 1 1 — — — 33 14
2019–20 28 18 5 5 — 4[e] 1 — 37 24
2020–21 32 14 0 0 — 3[e] 0 — 35 14
Total 92 45 6 6 0 0 7 1 0 0 105 52
Kuwait 2021–22 Kuwait Premier League 3 3 2 2 1 1 – – 6 6
Beveren 2022–23 Challenger Pro League 23 14 1 2 – – – 24 16
Noah 2023–24 Armenian Premier League 10 2 0 0 – – – 10 2
Career total 389 173 17 12 5 1 58 19 4 1 473 206
  1. ^ Includes Belgian Cup, Coupe de France, Ukrainian Cup, FA Cup, Kuwait Emir Cup, Kuwait Crown Prince Cup
  2. ^ Includes Coupe de la Ligue, EFL Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Cup
  4. ^ a b Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
  5. ^ a b c d e Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  7. ^ a b Appearance in Ukrainian Super Cup
  8. ^ Two appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, four appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa League

International

Scores and results list DR Congo's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mbokani goal.
List of international goals scored by Dieumerci Mbokani[22][23]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 16 November 2005 Stade Sébastien Charléty, Paris, France  Libya 1–2 Friendly
2 12 May 2006 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico  Mexico 1–2 1–2 Friendly
3 26 March 2008 Stade Maurice Bacquet, Gonfreville-l'Orcher, France  Algeria 1–0 1–1 Friendly
4 13 June 2008 El Hadj Hassan Gouled Aptidon Stadium, Djibouti City, Djibouti  Djibouti 1–0 6–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 4–0
6 22 June 2008 Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo  Djibouti 5–0 5–1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 10 June 2012 Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo  Togo 2–0 2–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
8 17 June 2012 Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo  Seychelles 1–0 3–0 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
9 9 September 2012 Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo  Equatorial Guinea 1–0 4–0 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
10 4–0
11 20 January 2013 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa  Ghana 2–2 2–2 2013 Africa Cup of Nations
12 28 January 2013 Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa  Mali 1–0 1–1 2013 Africa Cup of Nations
13 31 January 2015 Estadio de Bata, Bata, Equatorial Guinea  Congo 1–2 4–2 2015 Africa Cup of Nations
14 4–2
15 4 February 2015 Estadio de Bata, Bata, Equatorial Guinea  Ivory Coast 1–1 1–3 2015 Africa Cup of Nations
16 18 October 2015 Stade de la Cité de l'Oie, Visé, Belgium  Nigeria 1–0 2–0 Friendly
17 8 October 2016 Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo  Libya 1–0 4–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
18 3–0
19 2 September 2021 Stade TP Mazembe, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo  Tanzania 1–0 1–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
20 6 September 2021 Stade de l'Amitié, Cotonou, Benin  Benin 1–0 1–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
21 7 October 2021 Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo  Madagascar 2–0 2–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
22 14 November 2021 Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo  Benin 1–0 2–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Anderlecht[24]

Standard Liège[26]

Dynamo Kiev

Royal Antwerp

Kuwait SC

DR Congo

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Dieudonne Mbokani Bezua". Ligue1.com. LFP. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  2. ^ Schöggl, Hans (21 September 2007). "Congo-Kinshasa (DR Congo) 2004". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d "FC Dynamo Kyiv signs Anderlecht striker Mbokani". Interfax-Ukraine. 22 June 2013. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Mbokani moves to Monaco". BBC Sport. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  5. ^ Ananth, Adithya (22 September 2010). "Dieumerci Mbokani claims he turned down Liverpool to join Monaco". Goal.com. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Mbokani s'annonce à Anderlecht" (in French). L'Équipe. 9 August 2011. Archived from the original on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  7. ^ "Mbokani staat al een poosje aan de kant" [Mbokani sidelined already for a while]. Sporza (in Dutch). VRT. 15 August 2011. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  8. ^ "Striker Mbokani signs for City". Canaries.co.uk. Norwich City FC. 31 August 2015. Archived from the original on 31 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  9. ^ "Hull City sign Dynamo Kiev's Dieumerci Mbokani on season-long loan". ESPN FC. ESPN Sports Media. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  10. ^ "Hull City 1–4 Arsenal". BBC Sport. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  11. ^ "Mbokani fails the medical as his Olympiakos move falls through". Sports DNA. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  12. ^ Okeleji, Oluwashini (28 August 2018). "DR Congo's Dieumerci Mbokani back in Belgium for 'new challenge'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  13. ^ "Dieumerci Mbokani: DR Congo striker extends stay with Belgian club Antwerp". BBC Sport. 8 June 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  14. ^ "ՊԱՇՏՈՆԱԿԱՆ ՀԱՅՏԱՐԱՐՈւԹՅՈւՆ". facebook.com/noah.footballclub (in Armenian). FC Noah Facebook. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Belgium cancel training session after explosions in Brussels". The Guardian. Press Association. 22 March 2016.
  16. ^ Stephens, Samuel (22 March 2016). "Brussels terror attacks: Norwich confirm 'shaken' Dieumerci Mbokani was at Zaventem Airport at time of blasts". The Independent.
  17. ^ Freezer, David (5 April 2016). "Norwich City striker Dieumerci Mbokani has retired from international football due to 'unfair treatment'". The Pink 'Un. Archant Community Media. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  18. ^ "Dieumerci Mbokani: Striker quits DR Congo over FA's 'shameful' behaviour". BBC Sport. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  19. ^ "Hull City's Dieumerci Mbokani: Departs for Africa Cup of Nations". The Score. Score Media Ventures. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  20. ^ Barrie, Mohamed Fajah (19 March 2019). "Dieumerci Mbokani: DR Congo striker withdraws from crucial Afcon qualifier". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  21. ^ "Zoontje van Dieumerci Mbokani is overleden" [Son of Mbokani dies]. Sporza (in Dutch). VRT. 24 August 2011. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  22. ^ "Dieumerci Mbokani". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  23. ^ Mamrud, Roberto (8 March 2018). "Dieumerci Mbokani Bezua - Goals in International Matches". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
  24. ^ "RSC Anderlecht | Palmares".
  25. ^ Scholten, Berend (22 July 2012). "Anderlecht edge Lokeren to lift Belgian Super Cup". UEFA.com. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  26. ^ "Standard de Liège | Palmares".
  27. ^ "Standard Liege clinch first league title in 25 years". France 24. 21 April 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  28. ^ a b c Dieumerci Mbokani at Soccerway
  29. ^ "2015 Nations Cup: Yannick Bolasie in DR Congo squad". BBC Sport. 9 January 2015.
  30. ^ "Mbokani wins Belgian Golden Boot". UEFA. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  31. ^ Topschutter Mbokani wint voor tweede keer in carrière de Ebbenhouten Schoen hln.be, 1 juni 2020, article in Dutch
  32. ^ Stratton, Stephen (8 May 2017). "The Ebony Shoe and the Belgian Lion". These Football Times. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  33. ^ "Atsu, Ayew win MVP and top scorer awards". CAF Online. Confédération Africaine de Football. 8 February 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  34. ^ "Jupiler Pro League Top Scorer". Archived from the original on 12 September 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2020.

Notes

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