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Ilombe Mboyo

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Ilombe Mboyo
Mboyo with Genk in 2014
Personal information
Date of birth (1987-04-22) 22 April 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Kinshasa, DR Congo (then Zaire)
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Virton
Number 19
Youth career
1997–2001 Anderlecht
2001–2002 Eendracht Aalst
2002–2005 Club Brugge
2005–2008 Charleroi
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Charleroi 40 (3)
2010–2011 Kortrijk 21 (6)
2011–2013 Gent 80 (37)
2013–2015 Genk 43 (13)
2015–2018 Sion 24 (4)
2017–2018 → Cercle Brugge (loan) 10 (4)
2018–2021 Kortrijk 66 (23)
2019 → Al-Raed (loan) 13 (2)
2021 Sint-Truiden 21 (5)
2021–2022 Gent 8 (1)
2022 URSL Visé 8 (3)
2023– Virton 13 (3)
International career
2011 DR Congo 1 (0)
2012 Belgium 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 June 2023

Ilombe Mboyo (born 22 April 1987) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Virton. Born in Zaire and raised in Belgium, Mboyo originally represented DR Congo internationally before switching to represent the Belgium national team.

Club career

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Born in Kinshasa, DR Congo, Mboyo played youth football for Anderlecht and Club Brugge, before going to prison when he was 17 for his part in a gang rape of a 14-year-old girl in 2004. Mboyo was a member of one of the most notorious street gangs in Belgium.[1][2][3][4] While in prison, Mboyo was scouted under an initiative started by Queen Paola of Belgium[5] and trained with Charleroi, joining the club after his release, signed by John Collins.[4] He joined Kortrijk on loan in May 2010; the deal was made permanent in September 2010[4] He moved to Gent in January 2011.[6]

He quickly became an important player for Gent and received the captain's armband.[4] However, two months later, in a game against Waasland-Beveren, Mboyo missed a carelessly taken penalty and provoked his own supporters after being booed. The club forced him to apologize for his behaviour and youngster Hannes van der Bruggen became the new captain.[7]

In August 2013, West Ham United pulled out of signing Mboyo after fans protested due to his conviction.[8]

On 3 February 2019, Al-Raed signed Mboyo for one season from Kortrijk.[9]

In January 2021, Mboyo joined fellow Belgian First Division A side Sint-Truiden on a permanent deal.[10]

On 31 August 2021, he returned to Gent on a two-year contract.[11]

On 26 December 2022, Mboyo signed with Virton.[12]

International career

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In August 2011 Mboyo played for the DR Congo national team in the 3–0 defeat against Gambia.[13] However, as this was a friendly game, he remained eligible for Belgium. In October 2012, Mboyo was called up to the senior Belgium national team. Due to his conviction, the selection was controversial. Assistant manager Vital Borkelmans said that he deserved a second chance, while François De Keersmaecker, President of the Royal Belgian Football Association, said that his presence could set a good example.[2] He made his debut on the 16th in a 2–0 win over Scotland in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, replacing Christian Benteke for the final four minutes at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels.[14]

Career statistics

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As of match played 16 May 2019[6]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sporting Charleroi 2008–09 Belgian First Division 15 3 0 0 0 0 15 3
2009–10 Belgian Pro League 25 0 1 0 0 0 26 0
Total 40 3 1 0 0 0 41 3
Kortrijk 2010–11 Belgian Pro League 21 6 2 0 0 0 23 6
Gent 2010–11 Belgian Pro League 12 2 1 1 0 0 13 3
2011–12 Belgian Pro League 32 14 3 0 0 0 35 14
2012–13 Belgian Pro League 34 20 3 1 0 0 37 21
2013–14 Belgian Pro League 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 1
Total 80 37 7 2 0 0 87 39
Genk 2013–14 Belgian Pro League 24 5 1 0 4[a] 0 29 5
2014–15 Belgian Pro League 19 8 1 0 0 0 20 8
Total 43 13 2 0 0 0 45 13
Sion 2017–18 Swiss Super League 24 4 1 1 0 0 25 5
Cercle Brugge (loan) 2016–17 Belgian First Division A 10 4 0 0 0 0 10 4
Kortrijk 2018–19 Belgian First Division A 20 7 2 0 0 0 22 7
Al-Raed (loan) 2018–19 Saudi Professional League 13 2 0 0 0 0 13 2
Career total 251 76 15 3 4 0 270 79
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

References

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  1. ^ Patrick Nathanson (24 September 2013). "Ilombe Mboyo: Prison, stardom and a terrible past". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  2. ^ a b Gavin Berry (12 October 2012). "Belgians defiant over rapist inclusion in their squad against Scotland". Daily Record and Sunday Mail.
  3. ^ Paul Doyle and James Riach (12 October 2012). "World Cup qualifiers: 10 things to look forward to this weekend". Guardian News Group PLC.
  4. ^ a b c d John Chapman (10 October 2012). "Ilombe Mboyo's long road to an international call-up". When Saturday Comes. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  5. ^ "Ilombe Mboyo: Charlton Athletic deny move for convicted rapist". BBC Sport. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  6. ^ a b Ilombe Mboyo at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Ilombe Mboyo excuseert zich bij fans AA Gent en levert aanvoerdersband in" [Mboyo apologizes towards fans of AA Gent and dismisses captain's armband] (in Dutch). Sport/Voetbalmagazine. 10 December 2012.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ Lewis, Darren (5 August 2013). "West Ham abandon transfer interest in striker Ilombe Mboyo as rape conviction sparks fan protests". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  9. ^ Al-Raed is officially signed by Ilombe Mboyo
  10. ^ "ILOMBE MBOYO IS EEN KANARIE!" (in Dutch). Sint-Truidense V.V. 8 January 2021. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  11. ^ "BIENVENUE PETIT PÉLÉ!" (in Dutch). Gent. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  12. ^ "[TRANSFERT] : MBOYO" (in French). Virton. 26 December 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  13. ^ "Gambia vs. DR Congo (3:0)". National Football Teams.
  14. ^ Moffat, Colin (16 October 2012). "Belgium 2-0 Scotland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
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