Brian Kibambe Cipenga (born 11 March 1998) is a Congolese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Spanish club Almerรญa and the DR Congo national team. Born in Kinshasa, Cipenga moved to Portugal at early age, and was a Boavista FC youth graduate.
โฝ Early Career in Portugal
After making his senior debut with the reserves in the 2017โ18 season, he moved to fellow Porto FA Elite Division side Freamunde in 2018. In 2019, Cipenga joined Famalicรฃo, but only featured for their under-23 team in the Liga Revelaรงรฃo.
๐ Lower League Moves
On 16 July 2020, he signed for Campeonato de Portugal side SC Ideal. In July 2021, Cipenga agreed to a deal with Anadia in the Liga 3. The following 26 January, he moved to Campeonato de Portugal side Lรคnk FC Vilaverdense, and helped in their promotion to Liga 3 at the end of the season.
๐ Professional Debut and First Goal
On 21 June 2023, Cipenga was announced at Liga Portugal 2 side Paรงos de Ferreira. He made his professional debut on 12 August, starting in a 0โ0 home draw against Uniรฃo de Leiria, and scored his first goal fourteen days later, in a 5โ1 home routing of CD Tondela.
๐ช๐ธ Move to Spain
On 6 July 2024, Cipenga moved abroad and joined Spanish Segunda Divisiรณn side Castellรณn. On 25 June 2026, he agreed to a three-year deal with fellow league team Almerรญa.
๐ 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. He was part of the squad that secured qualification for the FIFA World Cup after a historic 1โ0 victory over Jamaica, sealed by a 100th-minute goal from Axel Tuanzebe, marking the nationโs first World Cup appearance in 52 years.
๐ 2026 FIFA World Cup
On 19 May 2026, Cipenga was included in the 26-man squad selected by head coach Sรฉbastien Desabre to represent the DR Congo at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 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.
| Date | Event | Club/National Team | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 March 1998 | Born | N/A | Born in Kinshasa |
| 16 July 2020 | Signed for SC Ideal | SC Ideal | Campeonato de Portugal |
| 21 June 2023 | Joined Paรงos de Ferreira | Paรงos de Ferreira | Liga Portugal 2 |
| 25 June 2026 | Signed for Almerรญa | Almerรญa | Three-year deal |