Béni Badibanga
{{Short description|Belgian footballer (born 1996)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Family name hatnote|Badibanga|Diata|lang=Congolese}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Béni Badibanga
| image = Béni_Badibanga.jpg
| caption = Badibanga with Forge FC in 2024
| fullname = Béni Badibanga Diata
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|2|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = DR Congo
| height = {{height|m=1.76}}
| position = Winger
| currentclub = Forge FC
| clubnumber = 39
| youthyears1 = 2004–2005 | youthclubs1 = RRC de Waterloo
| youthyears2 = 2005–2008 | youthclubs2 = RCS Brainois
| youthyears3 = 2008–2011 | youthclubs3 = AFC Tubize
| youthyears4 = 2011–2015 | youthclubs4 = Standard Liège
| years1 = 2015–2018 | clubs1 = Standard Liège | caps1 = 27 | goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2017 | clubs2 = → Roda JC (loan) | caps2 = 6 | goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2018 | clubs3 = → Lierse (loan) | caps3 = 10 | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2018–2020 | clubs4 = Waasland-Beveren | caps4 = 53 | goals4 = 4
| years5 = 2020–2021 | clubs5 = Excel Mouscron | caps5 = 26 | goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2022 | clubs6 = Raja Casablanca | caps6 = 8 | goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2022–2023 | clubs7 = RAAL La Louvière | caps7 = 22 | goals7 = 9
| years8 = 2023– | clubs8 = Forge FC | caps8 = 32 | goals8 = 6
| nationalyears1 = 2015
| nationalteam1 = Belgium U19
| nationalcaps1 = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2015
| nationalteam2 = Belgium U21
| nationalcaps2 = 1
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| club-update = 23 October 2024
| nationalteam-update = 12 November 2015
}}
Béni Badibanga Diata (born 19 February 1996) is a footballer who plays for Forge FC in the Canadian Premier League. Born in DR Congo, he represented Belgium at youth international level. He spent most of his career in Belgium, with over 100 appearances in the Belgian top flight and has also played professionally in Morocco and Canada.{{cite web|url=https://onesoccer.ca/a/agr-s-high-press-how-the-midseason-signing-of-beni-badibanga-instigated-forge-s-turnaround|title=AGR's High Press: How the midseason signing of Béni Badibanga instigated Forge's turnaround|date=20 September 2023|first=Alexandre|last=Gangué-Ruzic|work=OneSoccer}}
Early life
Badibanga was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.{{cite web|url=https://forgefc.canpl.ca/article/celebrating-black-excellence-beni-badibanga|title=Celebrating Black Excellence: Beni Badibanga|date=February 13, 2024|work=Forge FC}} As his father was a businessman with a multinational Congolese company in the mining industry, he moved to London, England for a period, before moving to northern France near Lille.{{cite web|url=https://forgefc.canpl.ca/article/beni-badibanga-off-to-a-torrid-start-looking-to-carry-form-into-valour-fc-match|title=Béni Badibanga off to a torrid start – Looking to carry form into Valour FC match|first=Steve|last=Milton|date=April 26, 2024|work=Forge FC}} He later moved to Belgium, where he began playing youth football with RRC de Waterloo.{{cite web|url=https://www.football365.fr/beni-badibanga-rdc-choix-definitif-9892193.html|title=Beni Badibanga : " La RDC, un choix définitif "|language=fr|trans-title=Beni Badibanga: "The DRC, a definitive choice" |date=9 September 2020|work=Football 365|first=Patrick|last=Juillard}} He then joined RCS Brainois.{{cite web|url=https://leopardleader.com/beni-badibanga-je-soutiens-mes-aines-des-que-jen-ai-loccasion/|title=Béni Badibanga : "Je soutiens mes aînés dès que j'en ai l'occasion"|trans-title=Béni Badibanga : " I support my elders whenever I have the opportunity "|date=September 15, 2019|language=fr|work=Leopard Leader|first=Scott|last=Kadina}} At age 12, he joined AFC Tubize. When he was 14, he was approached by Standard Liège, but chose not to join as he was not yet mentally prepared to leave home. The following year, he was approached again by Standard Liège as well as Anderlecht, and chose to join Standard Liège, as his brother played at Anderlecht and he did not want to be in his shadow.
Club career
In February 2015, he signed a professional contract with the Standard Liège first team.{{cite web|url=https://www.africatopsports.com/2015/02/19/standard-beni-badibanga-passe-pro/|title=Standard : Beni Badibanga passe pro|trans-title=Standard : Beni Badibanga turns pro|date=February 19, 2015|first=Isidore|last=Akouete|work=Africa Top Sports|language=fr}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/beni-badibanga-passe-pro-au-standard-8910400|title=Beni Badibanga passe pro au Standard|language=fr|trans-title=Beni Badibanga turns pro at Standard|work=RTBF}} On 25 July 2015, he made his senior debut against KV Kortrijk in a league match.{{cite web|url=https://voila.cd/foot-portrait-decouvrez-beni-badibanga-une-autre-etoile-congolaise/|title=Foot portrait : Découvrez Beni Badibanga – une autre etoile Congolaise !!!|trans-title=Foot portrait: Discover Beni Badibanga – another Congolese star!!!|language=fr|work=Voila}} In January 2017, he went on loan with Dutch Eredivisie club Roda JC.{{cite web|url=https://www.africatopsports.com/2017/01/27/beni-badibanga-belgo-congolaise-prete-pays-bas/|title=Beni Badibanga : Le Belgo-Congolaise prêté au Pays-Bas|trans-title=Beni Badibanga: The Belgian-Congolese loaned to the Netherlands|date=January 27, 2017|first=Isidore|last=Akouete|work=Africa Top Sports|language=fr}} At the end of January 2018, he was loaned to Lierse in the Belgian First Division B.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/le-standard-prete-beni-badibanga-au-lierse-9827499|title=Le Standard prête Beni Badibanga au Lierse|trans-title=Standard lends Beni Badibanga to Lierse|language=fr|work=RTBF}} He left Standard Liège in the summer of 2018, having scored one goal and adding two assists in 37 appearances.{{Cite web|url=https://www.walfoot.be/news/2020-05-03/ce-quil-a-manque-a-beni-badibanga-au-standard|title=Ce qu'il a manqué à Beni Badibanga au Standard|first=Pierre|last=Ghislain|trans-title=What Beni Badibanga missed at Standard|date=May 3, 2020|work=Walfoot|language=fr}}
In July 2018, he signed with Belgian First Division A side Waasland-Beveren.{{cite web|url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/beni-badibanga-quitte-definitivement-le-standard-et-signe-a-waasland-beveren-9962202|title=Beni Badibanga quitte définitivement le Standard et signe à Waasland-Beveren|trans-title=Beni Badibanga leaves Standard for good and signs for Waasland-Beveren|language=fr|date=July 2, 2018|work=RTBF|first=Cédric|last=Lizin}}{{cite web|url=https://standard.be/nl/news/beni-badibanga-naar-waasland-beveren|title=Beni Badibanga naar Waasland-Beveren|trans-title=Beni Badibanga to Waasland-Beveren|language=Dutch|date=3 July 2018|work=Standard Liège}}
In July 2020, Badibanga joined Belgian Pro League club Royal Excel Mouscron.{{cite web|title=Officiel: Beni Badibanga signe aussi à l'Excel Mouscron|url=https://www.lesoir.be/314360/article/2020-07-20/officiel-beni-badibanga-signe-aussi-lexcel-mouscron|date=20 July 2020|trans-title=Official: Beni Badibanga also signs for Excel Mouscron|work=Le Soir|language=fr}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.lavenir.net/sports/football/d1a/2020/07/18/beni-badibanga-devrait-rejoindre-lexcel-mouscron-RAWPY2LRWJCI3CWMUUK3ALVXIY/|title=Beni Badibanga devrait rejoindre l'Excel Mouscron|trans-title=Beni Badibanga should join Excel Mouscron|language=fr|date=July 18, 2020|work=L'Avenir}}
In January 2022, he signed with Moroccan club Raja Casablanca in the Botola.{{cite web|url=https://www.rtl.be/sport/beni-badibanga-rejoint-le-raja-de-marc-wilmots/2022-01-31/article/448323|trans-title=Beni Badibanga joins Marc Wilmots' Raja|date=January 31, 2022|title=Beni Badibanga rejoint le Raja de Marc Wilmots|work=RTL Info|language=fr}} In August 2022, he terminated his contract with the club by mutual consent.{{cite web|url=https://lematin.ma/express/2022/transferts-separation-lamiable-entre-raja-joueurs-beni-badibanga-kadima-kabango/379718.html|title=Transferts : séparation à l'amiable entre le Raja et les joueurs Beni Badibanga et Kadima Kabango|trans-title=Transfers: amicable separation between Raja and players Beni Badibanga and Kadima Kabango|date=16 August 2022|work=Le Matin|first=Abderrahman|last=Ichi|language=fr}}
In September 2022, he signed with RAAL La Louvière in the third tier Belgian National Division 1.{{cite web|url=https://www.walfoot.be/news/2022-09-20/officiel--beni-badibanga-rejoint-la-raal|trans-title=Official: a former Standard member joins the RAAL|title=Officiel : un ancien du Standard rejoint la RAAL|work=Walfoot|date=20 September 2022|first=Antoine|last=Bourlon|language=fr}} In December 2022, it was announced that he would leave the club and would not play in the second half of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.sudinfo.be/id595528/article/2022-12-30/n1-beni-badibanga-nest-plus-un-joueur-de-la-raal-il-y-eu-des-divergences-point|title=N1 - Beni Badibanga n'est plus un joueur de la RAAL: "Il y a eu des divergences" (+ point mercato)|trans-title=N1 - Beni Badibanga is no longer a RAAL player: “There were differences” (+ mercato point)|work=SudInfo|date=30 December 2022|language=fr}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dhnet.be/sports/sport-regional/centre/2022/12/30/beni-badibanga-ex-standard-ex-mouscron-et-la-raal-cest-fini-YAFH3PNF7BASDBNTWSBFMHVRWA/|title=Beni Badibanga (ex-Standard, ex-Mouscron) and RAAL, it's over|trans-title=Beni Badibanga (ex-Standard, ex-Mouscron) et la RAAL, c'est fini|language=fr|date=30 December 2022|work=La Dernière Heure|first=Nathalie|last=Dumont}} His departure was finalized in May 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.dhnet.be/sports/sport-regional/centre/2023/05/31/beni-badibanga-fait-partie-des-neuf-joueurs-non-prolonges-a-la-raal-U2QXATH5RFHM5EZC4OZ4M3TFIY/|title=La RAAL officialise neuf départs dont Beni Badibanga|trans-title=The RAAL formalizes nine departures including Beni Badibanga|date=31 May 2023|language=fr|work=La Dernière Heure|first=Nathalie|last=Dumont}}
In July 2023, Badibanga signed with Canadian Premier League club Forge FC.{{cite web|url=https://forgefc.canpl.ca/article/forge-fc-sign-international-attacker-beni-badibanga|title=Forge FC sign international attacker Beni Badibanga|date=July 27, 2023|work=Forge FC}}{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/forge-fc-beni-badabinga/|title=Forge Adds Belgian Forward Beni Badibanga|date=July 27, 2023|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} He made his debut for the club on 4 August 2023, in a substitute appearance against Cavalry FC.{{Cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/video/recap-cavalry-fc-0-0-forge-fc-cpl-match-70|title=Highlights: Cavalry FC 3-0 Forge FC — CPL Match #70|date=August 4, 2023|work=Canadian Premier League|first=Mitchell|last=Tierney}} On 19 August, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1-1 draw against the HFX Wanderers.{{cite web|url=https://wakingthered.com/2023/08/21/12454/canadian-premier-league-weekly-roundup-cpl-matchday-20-vancouver-fc-bag-shock-bc-derby-win-cavalry-reclaim-top-spot/|title=Canadian Premier League weekly roundup: CPL Matchday 20 — Vancouver FC bag shock BC derby win, Cavalry back on top|first=Adam|last=Palermo|work=Waking the Red|date=August 21, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/match-analysis-badibanga-stunner-bags-point-for-forge-vs-halifax-wanderers|title=Match Analysis: Badibanga stunner bags point for Forge vs. Halifax Wanderers|date=August 19, 2023|work=Canadian Premier League|first=Charlie|last=O'Connor-Clarke}} On 28 October, he helped Forge win their fourth league title, scoring a goal in a 2–1 win over Cavalry FC in the final.{{Cite web |last=Tierney |first=Mitchell |date=October 28, 2023 |title=HIGHLIGHTS + ANALYSIS: Forge wins 2023 North Star Cup, defeating Cavalry to lift fourth playoff crown (Oct. 28, 2023) |url=https://onesoccer.ca/a/highlights-analysis-forge-wins-2023-north-star-cup-defeating-cavalry-to-lift-fourth-playoff-crown-oct-28-2023 |access-date=October 29, 2023 |website=OneSoccer}} At the end of the season, he was named to the CPL Best XI.{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/canadian-premier-league-best-xi-fuelled-by-gatorade-2023-cpl-stars-honoured|title=Canadian Premier League Best XI fuelled by Gatorade: 2023 CPL stars honoured|date=December 20, 2023|work=Canadian Premier League}} On 10 July 2024, he scored a goal from midfield against Toronto FC in the 2024 Canadian Championship.{{Cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/watch-badibanga-banger-gives-forge-fc-the-lead-against-toronto-fc-in-canadian-championship-semifinal|title=Badibanga banger gives Forge FC the lead against Toronto FC in Canadian Championship semifinal|date=10 July 2024|work=Canadian Premier League}}{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/we-need-players-like-badibanga-forge-fc-attacker-putting-on-a-show-this-season-in-hamilton|title='We need players like Badibanga': Forge FC attacker putting on a show this season in Hamilton|date=July 15, 2024|first=Mitchell|last=Tierney|work=Canadian Premier League}} After the 2024 season, the club picked up his option for the 2025 season.{{cite web|url=https://forgefc.canpl.ca/article/forge-fc-exercises-option-on-beni-badibanga-for-2025-season|title=Forge FC Exercises Option on Beni Badibanga for 2025 Season|date=December 24, 2024|work=Forge FC}}{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/forge-fc-beni-badibanga-contract-2025/|title=Forge Triggers Badibanga Option|date=December 24, 2024|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} The situation evolved into a contract dispute with Forge claiming he was under contract, while Badibanga claimed he terminated his contract with the club for just cause.{{cite web|url=https://truenorthfoot.ca/article/beni-badibanga-says-he-terminated-his-forge-contract-for-quotjust-causequot-the-details|title=Beni Badibanga says he terminated his Forge contract for "just cause": The details|date=January 18, 2025|work=True North Foot}}{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/forge-fc-beni-badibanga-contract-dispute-leave-2025/|title=The Curious Case Of Beni Badibanga|date=January 19, 2025|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}
International career
Badibanga is eligible to play for DR Congo and Belgium.{{cite web|url=https://leopardsactu.com/entre-les-diables-rouges-et-leopards-beni-badibanga-fait-un-choix-de-coeur/|title=Entre les Diables Rouges et Léopards, Beni Badibanga fait un choix de cœur !|trans-title=Between the Red Devils and Leopards, Beni Badibanga makes a heartfelt choice!|language=fr|work=Leopards Actu|date=September 10, 2020|first=Jean-Claude|last=Bisimwa Mirindi}}
In 2015, he played for Belgium U19 in the 2015 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification and Belgium U21 in the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification.{{cite web|url=https://headbandsandheartbreak.wordpress.com/2017/09/04/the-daily-drool-beni-badibanga/|title=The Daily Drool: Beni Badibanga|date=September 4, 2017|work=Headbands and Heartbreak}}
He was called up by the DR Congo national team for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.
{{cite web|url=https://www.afrik-foot.com/can-2021-q-la-liste-elargie-de-la-rdc-contre-l-angola-avec-disasi|title=CAN 2021 (Q) : la liste élargie de la RDC contre l'Angola avec Disasi !|trans-title=CAN 2021 (Q): the extended list of the DRC against Angola with Disasi|publisher=Afrik-foot|date=6 March 2020|language=fr}}
Personal life
He is the son of Samy Badibanga, the former Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.{{cite web|url=http://www.sangoyacongo.com/2016/11/le-premier-ministre-de-la-rdc-samy.html|title=Le premier ministre de la RDC Samy Badibanga est le père d'un international Belge du Standard de Liège|trans-title=DRC Prime Minister Samy Badibanga is the father of a Belgian international from Standard de Liège|date=18 November 2016|work=Ba Sanga Ya Congo Kinshasa|language=fr}} He is the cousin of fellow professional footballers Ziguy Badibanga and Luis Pedro Cavanda.{{cite web|url=https://fr.canpl.ca/article/beni-badibanga-lobjectif-du-forge-fc-cette-annee-tout-gagner|title=Béni Badibanga : " L'objectif du Forge FC cette année? Tout gagner ! "|trans-title=Béni Badibanga: “Forge FC’s objective this year? Win it all! »|language=fr|date=April 17, 2024|work=Canadian Premier League|first=Quentin|last=Parisis}}
He also works as a fashion model for American brand Fashion Nova.{{cite news|url=https://www.thespec.com/sports/hamilton-region/the-creative-life-of-a-forge-attacker/article_3fe536ec-f664-5979-a4ed-dabbc16ea924.html|title=The creative life of a Forge attacker|work=The Hamilton Spectator|date=21 September 2023|first=Steve|last=Milton}}
Career statistics
{{updated|9 November 2024|{{Soccerway|beni-badibanga/401405}}}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | ||||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|Playoffs !colspan=2|National CupIncludes appearances in the Belgian Cup and the Canadian Championship !colspan=2|ContinentalIncludes appearances in UEFA Europa League, CAF Champions League and the CONCACAF Champions Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=4|Standard Liège
|23 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 29 | 1 | |||
| 2016–17
|2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 6 | 0 | |||
| 2017–18
|2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 2 | 0 | ||||
| colspan=2|Total
!27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 1 | |
| Roda JC (loan)
|6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 9 | 0 | |||
| Lierse (loan)
|10 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 10 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan=3|Waasland-Beveren
|25 | 2 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 26 | 2 | ||||
| 2019–20
|28 | 2 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 28 | 2 | ||||
| colspan=2|Total
!53 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 4 | |
| Excel Mouscron
|26 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 27 | 0 | ||||
| Raja Casablanca
|8 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 11 | 1 | |||
| RAAL La Louvière
|22 | 9 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 23 | 9 | ||||
| rowspan=3|Forge FC
|2023 |10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 12 | 3 | |||
| 2024
|22 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 32 | 5 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!32 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 8 | |
| colspan=3|Career totals
!184 | 21 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 215 | 23 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{RBFA player|PH_6544}}
- {{Soccerway|beni-badibanga/401405}}
{{Forge FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Badibanga, Beni}}
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:Belgian men's footballers
Category:Belgium men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Belgium men's youth international footballers
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo emigrants to Belgium
Category:Standard Liège players
Category:Roda JC Kerkrade players
Category:Royal Excel Mouscron players
Category:RAAL La Louvière players
Category:Belgian Pro League players
Category:Challenger Pro League players
Category:Belgian National Division 1 players
Category:Canadian Premier League players
Category:Belgian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Morocco
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada
Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Morocco
Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Canada
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo men's under-20 international footballers
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo men's footballers
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate men's footballers
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate sportspeople in Morocco
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate sportspeople in Canada
Category:21st-century Belgian sportsmen
Category:21st-century Democratic Republic of the Congo sportsmen