Béni Badibanga

Béni Badibanga Diata (born 19 February 1996) is a Belgian footballer who plays for Forge FC in the Canadian Premier League. 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.
Early life
Badibanga began playing youth football with RRC de Waterloo. He then joined RCS Brainois. 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. On 25 July 2015, he made his senior debut against KV Kortrijk in a league match. In January 2017, he went on loan with Dutch Eredivisie club Roda JC. At the end of January 2018, he was loaned to Lierse in the Belgian First Division B. He left Standard Liège in the summer of 2018, having scored one goal and adding two assists in 37 appearances.
In July 2018, he signed with Belgian First Division A side Waasland-Beveren.
In July 2020, Badibanga joined Belgian Pro League club Royal Excel Mouscron.
In January 2022, he signed with Moroccan club Raja Casablanca in the Botola. In August 2022, he terminated his contract with the club by mutual consent.
In September 2022, he signed with RAAL La Louvière in the third tier Belgian National Division 1. In December 2022, it was announced that he would leave the club and would not play in the second half of the season. His departure was finalized in May 2023.
In July 2023, Badibanga signed with Canadian Premier League club Forge FC. He made his debut for the club on 4 August 2023, in a substitute appearance against Cavalry FC. On 19 August, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1-1 draw against the HFX Wanderers. 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.
International career
Born in Belgium, Badibanga is of Congolese descent and is eligible for both national sides.
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.
He was called up by the DR Congo national team for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.
Personal life
He is the son of Samy Badibanga, the former Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He also works as a fashion model for American brand Fashion Nova.
References
External links
1996 births
Living people
Men's association football wingers
Belgian men's footballers
Belgium men's under-21 international footballers
Belgium men's youth international footballers
Belgian sportspeople of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent
Standard Liège players
Roda JC Kerkrade players
Lierse S.K. players
S.K. Beveren players
Royal Excel Mouscron players
Raja CA players
RAAL La Louvière players
Forge FC players
Belgian Pro League players
Eredivisie players
Challenger Pro League players
Botola players
Belgian National Division 1 players
Belgian expatriate men's footballers
Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands
Expatriate men's footballers in Morocco
Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada
Belgian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Morocco
Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Canada
Democratic Republic of the Congo men's under-20 international footballers
Democratic Republic of the Congo men's footballers
Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate men's footballers
Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate sportspeople in Morocco
Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate sportspeople in Canada
Canadian Premier League players