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 . 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 Länk FC Vilaverdense, 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. 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. On 25 June 2026, he agreed to a three-year deal with fellow league team Almería.
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 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.. 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.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances, goals, and clean sheets by club, season, and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBoavista B2017–18Liga Portugal 270————70Freamunde2018–19Porto Football Association288————288Famalicão2019–20Primeira Liga0000———00Ideal2020–21Campeonato de Portugal213————213Anadia2021–22Liga 311021———131Länk Vilaverdense2022–23Liga 342250——40512Paços Ferreira2023–24Primeira Liga3141010——334Castellón2024–25Segunda División15320———1732025–26Segunda División30600———306Total45920———472Almería2026–27Segunda División61————61Career total1912710110004020628
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsDR Congo202560202661Total121
DR Congo score listed first, score column indicates score after each Cipenga goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Brian CipengaNo.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition11 July 2026Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, United States101–01–22026 FIFA World Cup
References
External links