:Florent Ibengé

{{infobox football biography

|name = Florent Ibengé

|image = Florent Ibengé (cropped).jpg

|image_size =

|caption = Florent Ibengé in 2016

|full_name = Jean-Florent Ikwange Ibengé

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|12|4|df=y}}

|birth_place = Léopoldville, Republic of the Congo

|height = 1.87m

|position = Centre-back

|currentclub = Al-Hilal Club (manager)

|years1 = 1979–1980

|clubs1 = Tennis Borussia Berlin

|caps1 =

|goals1 =

|years2 = 1985–1993

|clubs2 = Excelsior Roubaix

|caps2 =

|goals2 =

|years3 = 1993–1998

|clubs3 = US Boulogne

|caps3 =

|goals3 =

|years4 = 1998–2003

|clubs4 = ES Wasquehal

|caps4 =

|goals4 =

|manageryears1 = 2008–2010

|managerclubs1 = ES Wasquehal

|manageryears2 = 2010–2011

|managerclubs2 = SC Douai

|manageryears3 = 2012

|managerclubs3 = Shanghai Shenhua

|manageryears4 = 2014–2019

|managerclubs4 = DR Congo

|manageryears5 = 2014–2021

|managerclubs5 = Vita Club

|manageryears6 = 2021–2022

|managerclubs6 = RS Berkane

|manageryears7 = 2022–

|managerclubs7 = Al-Hilal Club

| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's football}}

{{Medal|Country|{{fb|COD}}}} (as manager)

}}

Jean-Florent Ikwange Ibengé (born 4 December 1961) is a Congolese football coach and former player who manages Sudanese club Al-Hilal.

Early and personal life

He was born in Léopoldville on 4 December 1961.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/coaches/jean-florent-ikwanga-ibenge/239725/|title=Profile|access-date=7 November 2015|publisher=Soccerway|archive-date=1 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401191532/https://int.soccerway.com/coaches/jean-florent-ikwanga-ibenge/239725/|url-status=live}}

Ibengé played as a centre-back for Tennis Borussia Berlin, Excelsior Roubaix, US Boulogne and ES Wasquehal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/florent-ibenge/|title=Florent Ibengé|website=worldfootball.net|access-date=5 March 2021|archive-date=15 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115051826/https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/florent-ibenge/|url-status=live}}

Coaching career

He spent his early coaching career in France, managing ES Wasquehal and SC Douai.

He was manager of Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua from April to May 2012, and of Congolese team Vita Club from February 2014.

He became manager of the DR Congo national team in August 2014, combining this role with his job at Vita Club.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28789128|title=Florent Ibenge appointed new DR Congo coach|date=14 August 2014|access-date=7 November 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|archive-date=24 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124170401/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28789128|url-status=live}}

He led DR Congo to the 2016 African Nations Championship title in February 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35516984|title=CHAN 2016: DR Congo are champions after victory over Mali|date=7 February 2016|access-date=9 February 2016|publisher=BBC Sport|archive-date=1 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401191537/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35516984|url-status=live}}

In March 2017, he announced that he intended to step down as national team manager in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39243696|title=Ibenge confirms he will leave his post as DR Congo coach in 2018|date=12 March 2017|access-date=13 March 2017|author=Momodou Bah|publisher=BBC Sport|archive-date=1 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401191538/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39243696|url-status=live}} He resigned in August 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49264848|title=Florent Ibenge quits as DR Congo coach|work=BBC Sport|date=7 August 2019|access-date=9 August 2019|archive-date=1 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401191539/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49264848|url-status=live}} After that, he returned to AS Vita Club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.africatopsports.com/2019/10/18/as-vita-club-florent-ibenge-donne-des-nouvelles-de-makusu-mundele/|title=AS Vita Club : Florent Ibenge donne des nouvelles de Makusu Mundele|first1=2021 03 03AfriqueSilas Wamangituka : Le Congolais aurait des courtisans en Premier|last1=League|first2=2021 03 03AfriqueLigue des Champions-Florent Ibengue : « Je n'ai pas peur de Al|last2=Ahly »|first3=2021 03 03AfriqueEspagne : Le CD Lugo se sépare de son entraîneur tunisien Mehdi|last3=Nafti|first4=2021 03 03TennisTournoi de Doha : Ons Jabeur passe en huitièmes de|last4=finale|date=18 October 2019|access-date=3 April 2020|archive-date=7 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807151510/https://www.africatopsports.com/2019/10/18/as-vita-club-florent-ibenge-donne-des-nouvelles-de-makusu-mundele/|url-status=live}}

In July 2021 he became manager of Moroccan club RS Berkane.{{Cite web|url=https://panafricafootball.com/florent-ibenge-annonce-a-la-renaissance-berkane/|title=Florent Ibenge annoncé à la Renaissance Berkane|date=5 July 2021}} In June 2022 he became manager of Sudanese club Al-Hilal Club.{{Cite web|url=https://sudantelegraph.com/sports/bag-news-is-unique-in-the-name-of-the-new-coach-of-al-hilal-and-mentions-his-biography/|title="Bag News" is unique in the name of the new coach of Al Hilal and mentions his biography|date=25 June 2022}}

In November 2022, Ibenge won the Sudan Cup after Al-Hilal defeated Al Ahli Khartoum in the final winning via a 4–3 penalty shoot-out after the match had ended in a goalless draw after extra time.{{Cite web |last=Pelly |first=Aristote |date=16 November 2023 |title=Florent Ibenge et Al Hilal remportent la Coupe du Soudan |trans-title=Florent Ibenge and Al Hilal win the Sudan Cup |url=https://www.irisfootball.com/florent-ibenge-et-al-hilal-remportent-la-coupe-du-soudan/ |access-date=19 August 2023 |website=Iris Football |language=fr-FR |archive-date=19 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819095505/https://www.irisfootball.com/florent-ibenge-et-al-hilal-remportent-la-coupe-du-soudan/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=15 November 2022 |title=Al Hilal Omdurman et ses congolais remportent la Coupe du Soudan ! |trans-title=Al Hilal Omdurman and its Congolese win the Sudan Cup! |url=https://www.leopardsfoot.com/al-hilal-omdurman-et-ses-congolais-remportent-la-coupe-du-soudan/ |access-date=19 August 2023 |website=LEOPARDSFOOT |language=fr-FR |archive-date=19 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819095509/https://www.leopardsfoot.com/al-hilal-omdurman-et-ses-congolais-remportent-la-coupe-du-soudan/ |url-status=live }}

Following the start of the 2023 Sudan conflict, Ibengé voiced his plans to set up a base camp for Al-Hilal players in Cairo, Egypt, and expressed hopes that the team would continue to play in the Arab Club Champions Cup. In April 2023, Ibengé and his family fled to France via Djibouti.{{Cite web |last1=Daras |first1=Marina |last2=Eyoum |first2=Victoire |date=29 April 2023 |title=Sudan crisis: the football coach forced to flee Khartoum |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-65423646 |access-date=30 April 2023 |website=BBC News |language=en |archive-date=29 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429170008/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-65423646 |url-status=live }}

Honours

DR Congo

African Nations Championship: 2016{{Cite web |date=17 December 2017 |title=Florent Ibengé to continue as DR Congo boss |url=https://africanfootball.com/news/737704/Florent-Ibeng-to-continue-as-DR-Congo-boss |access-date=26 August 2022 |website=African Football |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826102010/https://africanfootball.com/news/737704/Florent-Ibeng-to-continue-as-DR-Congo-boss |url-status=live }}
African Cup of Nations third place: 2015{{Cite web |last=Kalumiana |first=Kalumiana |date=8 February 2015 |title=Ibenge: We won but not motivated - 2015 Africa Cup of Nations - DR Congo |url=https://africanfootball.com/news/507970/Ibenge-We-won-but-not-motivated |access-date=26 August 2022 |website=African Football |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826102011/https://africanfootball.com/news/507970/Ibenge-We-won-but-not-motivated |url-status=live }}

AS Vita Club

Linafoot: 2014–15, 2017–18,{{Cite web |last=Madyira |first=Michael |date=14 July 2018 |title=AS Vita win DRC league title, TP Mazembe settle for runners-up spot |url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/as-vita-win-drc-league-title-tp-mazembe-settle-for-runners/yxdd0obwsy3618xui5fpsgsl9 |access-date=25 August 2022 |website=Goal |archive-date=25 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825201358/https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/as-vita-win-drc-league-title-tp-mazembe-settle-for-runners/yxdd0obwsy3618xui5fpsgsl9 |url-status=live }} 2020–21{{Cite web |date=25 June 2022 |title="Bag News" is unique in the name of the new coach of Al Hilal and mentions his biography |url=https://sudantelegraph.com/sports/bag-news-is-unique-in-the-name-of-the-new-coach-of-al-hilal-and-mentions-his-biography/ |website=Sudan Telegraph}}
DR Congo Super Cup: 2015{{Cite web |date=31 August 2015 |title=Super Coupe du Congo 2015 : V.Club lamine Lupopo à Kinshasa {{!}} adiac-congo.com : toute l'actualité du Bassin du Congo |url=https://www.adiac-congo.com/content/super-coupe-du-congo-2015-vclub-lamine-lupopo-kinshasa-37662 |access-date=26 August 2022 |website=Adaic Congo |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826102031/https://www.adiac-congo.com/content/super-coupe-du-congo-2015-vclub-lamine-lupopo-kinshasa-37662 |url-status=live }}

CAF Champions League runner-up: 2014{{Cite web |last=Madyira |first=Michael |date=25 November 2018 |title=AS Vita coach Florent Ibenge warns of another heartbreak ahead of Raja Casablanca match |url=https://www.goal.com/en-cm/news/as-vita-coach-florent-ibenge-warns-of-another-heartbreak/sbcmcwqwvm6y12xs648fyfb92 |access-date=26 August 2022 |website=Goal |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826102009/https://www.goal.com/en-cm/news/as-vita-coach-florent-ibenge-warns-of-another-heartbreak/sbcmcwqwvm6y12xs648fyfb92 |url-status=live }}
CAF Confederation Cup runner-up: 2018{{Cite web |last=Madyira |first=Michael |date=2 December 2018 |title=Caf Confederation Cup final: Raja Casablanca crowned champions despite 3-1 loss |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/as-vita-3-1-raja-casablanca-moroccans-win-caf-confederation/khgbfww9y8u31cupl2xq5ooq0 |access-date=26 August 2022 |website=Goal |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826102009/https://www.goal.com/en/news/as-vita-3-1-raja-casablanca-moroccans-win-caf-confederation/khgbfww9y8u31cupl2xq5ooq0 |url-status=live }}

RS Berkane

Moroccan Throne Cup: 2020–21{{Cite web |last=Zouiten |first=Sara |date=28 July 2022 |title=RS Berkane Beats Wydad AC to Win its 2nd Throne Cup Title |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2022/07/350513/rs-berkane-beats-wydad-ac-to-win-its-2nd-throne-cup-title |access-date=26 August 2022 |website=Morocco World News |language= |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817171544/https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2022/07/350513/rs-berkane-beats-wydad-ac-to-win-its-2nd-throne-cup-title |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Philémon |date=29 July 2022 |title=Morocco - King's Cup: Ibenge leaves RS Berkane on a high |url=https://sportnewsafrica.com/en/breve/morocco-kings-cup-ibenge-leaves-rs-berkane-on-a-high/ |access-date=26 August 2022 |website=Sport News Africa |language=en-US |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826103512/https://sportnewsafrica.com/en/breve/morocco-kings-cup-ibenge-leaves-rs-berkane-on-a-high/ |url-status=live }}
CAF Confederation Cup: 2021–22{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=20 May 2022 |title=Berkane stop Pirates on penalties to win second TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup title {{!}} Total CAF Confederation Cup |url=https://www.cafonline.com/total-confederation-cup/news/berkane-stop-pirates-on-penalties-to-win-second-totalenergies-caf-confederation- |access-date=26 August 2022 |website=CAFOnline.com |publisher=CAF-Confedération Africaine du Football |language=en |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826102009/https://www.cafonline.com/total-confederation-cup/news/berkane-stop-pirates-on-penalties-to-win-second-totalenergies-caf-confederation- |url-status=live }}

Al-Hilal