PORTRAIT
Mondial 2022: the rise of Vital Nsimba, back with the Leopards to challenge Morocco
The Congolese side of Clermont Foot, Vital Nsimba, against Saint-Etienne on November 7, 2021. AFP - PHILIPPE DESMAZES
Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow
4 mins
Essential player of Clermont Foot, Vital Nsimba is summoned by Hector Cuper for the double confrontation with Morocco in the play-offs of the 2022 World Cup (March 25-29).
He has not played for the DRC since 2016. For RFI, the defender talks about his return, these two crucial meetings, the dream of sending the DRC to the World Cup in Qatar and his evolution.
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October 2016: during a friendly match against Kenya, Florent Ibenge offers Vital Nsimba his first minutes of play in the jersey of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
There will be no others under Ibenge, the player not leaving the bench during his few calls in 2016 and 2017. But the counter may start again in March 2022.
Leopards coach
Hector Cuper has ticked Vital Nsimba's name off his list for the upcoming World Cup play-offs.
“
I feel proud.
I really want to give back to the coach the confidence he gives me.
I hope to have the opportunity to demonstrate that he made the right choice
, ”confided the Clermontois to the microphone of RFI, Sunday March 20, on the eve of joining the selection.
“
Moroccans are favourites, but we are here to contradict this status
”
The road to Qatar
passes through Morocco.
To qualify, the DRC must tame the Atlas Lions in the play-offs (go to Kinshasa on March 25, return to Casablanca on March 29).
"
It's one of the great nations of Africa, a high standing adversary
", warns Vital Nsimba, who expects "
complicated matches
".
“
It will be very tight
,” he predicts.
“
I think Morocco are favourites.
We see it in the FIFA rankings, they are ahead of us (24th rank against 66th rank, editor's note).
Moroccans are used to it, they participated in the last World Cup.
We can say that they are favorites, but we are there, precisely, to contradict this status (laughs).
We will do everything for
”, promises the Leopard.
The DRC's only qualification for the final phase of a World Cup dates back to 1974, when the country was still known as Zaire.
Seeing the Leopards at the end of the year among the 32 qualified nations would be "
something incredible for the Congolese people
", assures Vital Nsimba with determination.
Successful transition to Ligue 1
Now 28 years old, the left side has changed a lot in five and a half years: “
I have matured a lot since the last time I left for selection.
I am no longer the same person, I have gained a lot of experience in the meantime.
“The era of the National and Ligue 2 with Bourg-en-Bresse is behind him.
Congolese Vital Nsimba (left) and Beninese Jodel Dossou (right), the Clermontois, celebrating the goal of the first against Lille, October 16, 2021. AFP - THIERRY ZOCCOLAN
Today, he plays in Ligue 1, under the colors of promoted Clermont, with some success.
He himself admits "
a good start for a first year in Ligue 1
".
Vital Nsimba is the second most used player in the Auvergne squad and has only missed one match since the start of the season due to injury.
His return to the lair of the Leopards sounds like a reward:
“
I always said to myself that from the moment I play and perform well in Ligue 1, sooner or later, the doors of the selection would open.
I always had this idea in mind.
Participate in the World Cup, maybe not, but in any case to return to the selection.
I thought about it strongly, it was one of my goals.
“Objective accomplished for a boy”
very ambitious
“and convinced that he can”
do even better
“.
Decisive first round in Kinshasa
An intense spring opens for Vital Nsimba and his teammates, between the race for the World Cup with the DRC and the maintenance race with Clermont.
Two important objectives which do not prevent the defender from having an appetite.
“
The ideal is to have both!
he laughs.
The challenge begins Friday, March 25 in Kinshasa against Vahid Halilhodzic's Morocco.
Vital Nsimba is in a hurry, even if the stands will be empty.
The Confederation of African Football has accepted that the first leg will take place at the Stade des Martyrs but only opens access for the 25,000 renovated seats, i.e. 30% of the capacity of the enclosure.
“
It's a shame, because we know that when the Stade des Martyrs is full, it's on fire!
This particular atmosphere can overwhelm the adversaries.
But even if there is a gauge, it will still push.
There will be an extraordinary atmosphere
,” predicts Vital Nsimba.
See this post on Instagram
A post shared by Vital NSimba 1️⃣2️⃣ (@vitalnsimba11)
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