Mavis Tchibota


Mavis Tchibota Dufounou is a Congolese professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Bulgarian First League club Ludogorets Razgrad and the Congo national football team.

Club career

Tchibota began his career with Diables Noirs, before joining the system of Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2015. He spent the majority of his time out on loan with fellow Israeli Premier League side Hapoel Kfar Saba, joining in July 2015. He scored his opening senior goal in his second match, notching a seventy second minute winner over Maccabi Haifa. Tchibota stayed for the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons, netting ten times in sixty-nine fixtures in all competitions for Hapoel Kfar Saba. Bnei Yehuda signed Tchibota on loan on 4 July 2017. Twelve months later, he was signed permanently via a swap for Maor Kandil.
On 19 February 2019, Bulgarian First League club Ludogorets Razgrad announced Tchibota had penned a pre-contract agreement with the club; effective from the succeeding June. He scored on his competitive debut for them, netting in their 2–0 Bulgarian Supercup victory over Lokomotiv Plovdiv on 3 July. After a further goal in UEFA Europa League qualifying against The New Saints, Tchibota scored his first league goal on 22 September versus Arda Kardzhali. He netted a hat-trick on 25 September in the Bulgarian Cup versus second tier team Neftochimic.

International career

Tchibota was selected in the Congo U17 squad for the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico. He won four caps as his nation advanced from Group A, prior to losing in the following round to Uruguay. He received a stadium ovation from fans in Congo's tournament opener against the Netherlands. He represented the U20s in 2014. In September 2017, Tchibota was called up to the seniors for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with Ghana. He won his debut cap on 5 September as Congo lost 1–5 in Brazzaville.

Personal life

Tchibota is the son of former Congo international Pierre Tchibota. He arrived in Israel at the age of fifteen with his mother, though further difficulties delayed their entry. In 2016, Tchibota applied for citizenship via marriage, which would've allowed him to play for the Israel national football team - a "dream" of Tchibota's. However, that became impossible in September 2017 following his competitive debut for Congo - which occurred due to delays in obtaining Israeli citizenship. In January 2018, Tchibota received his temporary residence identity card. In 2016, he civil married his Israeli partner Karolina in Cyprus, they have one daughter.

Career statistics

Club

International

Honours

;Bnei Yehuda
;Ludogorets