Brian Cipenga
Personal information
Full name Brian Kibambe Cipenga
Date of birth (1998-03-11) 11 March 1998 (age 28)
Place of birth Kinshasa, DR Congo
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position Winger
Team information
Current team
Almería
Youth career
Boavista
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Boavista B 7 (0)
2018–2019 Freamunde 28 (8)
2019–2020 Famalicão 0 (0)
2020–2021 Ideal 21 (3)
2021–2022 Anadia 11 (0)
2022–2023 Länk Vilaverdense 42 (3)
2023–2024 Paços Ferreira 31 (4)
2024–2026 Castellón 45 (9)
2026– Almería 0 (0)
International career‡
2025– DR Congo 10 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 3 June 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 28 June 2026

Brian Kibambe Cipenga (born 11 March 1998) is a Congolese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Spanish club Almería and the DR Congo national team.

Club career

Born in Kinshasa, Cipenga moved to Portugal at early age, and was a Boavista FC youth graduate. After making his senior debut with the reserves in the 2017–18 season, he moved to fellow Porto FA Elite Division side Freamunde in 2018.

In 2019, Cipenga joined Famalicão, but only featured for their under-23 team in the Liga Revelação [pt]. On 16 July 2020, he signed for Campeonato de Portugal side SC Ideal.[1]

In July 2021, Cipenga agreed to a deal with Anadia in the Liga 3.[2] The following 26 January, he moved to Campeonato de Portugal side Länk FC Vilaverdense,[3] and helped in their promotion to Liga 3 at the end of the season.

On 21 June 2023, Cipenga was announced at Liga Portugal 2 side Paços de Ferreira.[4] He made his professional debut on 12 August, starting in a 0–0 home draw against União de Leiria, and scored his first goal fourteen days later, in a 5–1 home routing of CD Tondela.

On 6 July 2024, Cipenga moved abroad and joined Spanish Segunda División side Castellón.[5] On 25 June 2026, he agreed to a three-year deal with fellow league team Almería.[6]

International career

Cipenga was called up to the DR Congo national team for a set of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches in October 2025.[7] He was part of the squad that secured qualification for the FIFA World Cup after a historic 1–0 victory over Jamaica, sealed by a 100th-minute goal from Axel Tuanzebe, marking the nation’s first World Cup appearance in 52 years.

On 19 May 2026, Cipenga was included in the 26-man squad selected by head coach Sébastien Desabre to represent the DR Congo at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[8] Cipenga had a supporting role during the group-stage of the World Cup, and scored his first international goal seven minutes into DR Congo's round of 32 match against England. DR Congo had the lead during the first half because of Cipenga's goal, but England went on to score two goals in the second half, ultimately winning the match.[9][10]

Career statistics

As of match played 1 July 2026
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
DR Congo 2025 6 0
2026 4 1
Total 10 1
DR Congo score listed first, score column indicates score after each Cipenga goal.
List of international goals scored by Brian Cipenga
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 1 July 2026 Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, United States 10  England 1–0 1–2 2026 FIFA World Cup

References

  1. ^ "CONTRATAÇÃO PARA A ÉPOCA 2020–2021" [SIGNING FOR THE 2020–2021 SEASON]. SC Ideal (in Portuguese). Facebook. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  2. ^ "A bitola alta do Anadia FC para atacar a Liga 3" [The high stakes of Anadia FC to attack Liga 3] (in Portuguese). AFA TV. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Brian Cipenga é reforço do Länk Vilaverdense" [Brian Cipenga is an addition of Länk Vilaverdense] (in Portuguese). O Jogo. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Brian Cipenga é reforço do P. Ferreira" [Brian Cipenga is an addition of P. Ferreira] (in Portuguese). Record. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Brian Cipenga, nuevo jugador del CD Castellón" [Brian Cipenga, new player of CD Castellón] (in Spanish). CD Castellón. 6 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Brian Cipenga joins UD Almería". UD Almería. 25 June 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  7. ^ "Brian Cipenga, la surprise de Desabre pour les Léopards". 7 October 2025.
  8. ^ Pierre Desorgues (19 May 2026). "Coupe du monde 2026: la liste des 26 joueurs congolais sans nouveaux venus et sans Afimico Pululu fait réagir". tv5monde.com. TV5 Monde. Retrieved 23 May 2026..
  9. ^ Vankin, Jonathan (1 July 2026). "Who is Brian Cipenga? DR Congo Star Strikes Early to Stun England in World Cup". Heavy.com. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  10. ^ Busbee, Jay (1 July 2026). "Harry Kane's late brace saves England from stunning upset against DR Congo". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 1 July 2026.