Christopher Katongo


Christopher Katongo is a Zambian professional footballer who plays for Zambia Premier Soccer League club Green Buffaloes F.C. as a striker. At international level, he amassed over 100 caps between 2003 and 2016 for the Zambia national team. He is an Africa Cup of Nations winner and won the BBC's African Footballer of the Year award in 2012, winning just over 40% of the public vote. His win is stated to have inspired a number of young players in Zambia.

Club career

Born in Mufulira, Katongo played with Butondo West Tigers and Kalulushi Modern Stars before moving to Green Buffaloes in 2001. Whilst at Buffaloes, Katongo twice scored four times in CAF Confederation Cup games. In 2004, Katongo moved to South African side Jomo Cosmos, before moving to Danish side Brøndby IF in January 2007. In August 2008, Katongo moved again, this time to German club Arminia Bielefeld. In July 2010, he moved to Greece to play for Skoda Xanthi.
In July 2011, Katongo signed a two-and-half-year contract with Chinese Super League side Henan Construction. He made his Super League debut on 10 July in a 0–0 home draw against Changchun Yatai. His first goal for Henan came, in a 2–1 away defeat, against Dalian Shide on 10 September 2011.
In March 2014, Katongo joined South African side Golden Arrows on a four-month deal, three months after leaving the Chinese club.

International career

Katongo made his international debut for Zambia in 2003, and after scoring a hat-trick against South Africa in September 2007, Katongo was promoted in the Zambian Army from corporal to sergeant.
Katongo has appeared in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
Katongo won the Player of the Tournament during the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, in which he was the captain for the winning side, having beaten Ivory Coast 8–7 on penalties after a goalless match, scoring the first of the penalties himself.
He was called up to Zambia's 23-man squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
In October 2014 he was thrown out of a Zambian training camp, and in December 2014 he was left out of Zambia's preliminary squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
He was in the 2016 preliminary squad for the CHAN.

International goals

NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.13 August 2005Mmabatho Stadium, Mahikeng, South Africa2–02–22006 COSAFA Cup
2.30 January 2006Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt1–01–02006 Africa Cup of Nations
3.22 July 2006Independence Stadium, Windhoek, Namibia3–13–12006 COSAFA Cup
4.8 September 2007Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa1–03–12008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
5.8 September 2007Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa2–03–12008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
6.8 September 2007Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa3–03–12008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
7.26 January 2008Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana1–51–52008 Africa Cup of Nations
8.30 January 2008Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana1–11–12008 Africa Cup of Nations
9.21 June 2008Konkola Stadium, Chililabombwe, Zambia1–01–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification
10.17 January 2010Estádio Nacional da Tundavala, Lubango, Angola2–22–32010 Africa Cup of Nations
11.4 June 2011Nkoloma Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia1–03–02012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
12.4 June 2011Nkoloma Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia2–03–02012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
13.4 September 2011Stade Said Mohamed Cheikh, Mitsamiouli, Comoros1–02–12012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
14.25 January 2012Estadio de Bata, Bata, Equatorial Guinea2–22–22012 Africa Cup of Nations
15.29 January 2012Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea1–01–02012 Africa Cup of Nations
16.4 February 2012Estadio de Bata, Bata, Equatorial Guinea2–03–02012 Africa Cup of Nations
17.9 June 2012Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia1–01–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
18.8 September 2012Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia1–01–02013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
19.8 June 2013Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia2–04–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
20.6 June 2014Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, USA1–03–4Friendly
21.23 January 2016Umuganda Stadium, Gisenyi, Rwanda1–01–02016 African Nations Championship
22.4 June 2016Estadio 24 de Setembro, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau2–22–32017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Coaching career

As of December 2016, he had begun training for his coaching qualifications.

Personal life

His younger brother Felix is also an international player.

Honours

Club

Brøndby IF
Henan Construction
Zambia