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Moïse Bombito Lumpungu (born March 30, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a centre-back for Ligue 1 club Nice and the Canada national team.

Early life

Born in Montreal, Quebec, Bombito is of Congolese descent. He began his youth soccer career with CS St-Laurent, where he initially played as a forward. At the age of 18, he declined an opportunity to join CS St-Hubert in the semi-professional Première ligue de soccer du Québec, choosing to remain with St-Laurent in the amateur Ligue de soccer élite du Québec to prioritize consistent playing time.

College career

Bombito originally attended Collège Ahuntsic and played for their men's soccer team. In 2019, he was named to the RSEQ all-star team for Division 1 soccer.

After attending a combine hosted by António Ribeiro and Frederico Moojen, he began attending junior college in the United States, joining Iowa Western Community College. He played two seasons, finishing as national runner-up in the 2021 spring season, following it up with a national championship in the fall 2021 season. He earned 2021 All-American accolades, was named the ICCAC Tournament MVP, and was selected to the ICCAC All-Tournament Team and the ICCAC All-Region First Team.

In 2022, he transferred to the University of New Hampshire to play for the men's soccer team at the NCAA Division I level. On September 10, 2022, Bombito made his collegiate debut and also scored his first goal against the FIU Panthers. That season, he was named the team MVP, the ECAC Defensive Player of the Year, the America East Defender of the Year, was named to the All-ECAC First Team and All-America East First Team, and a Second Team All-American. He was also a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist, was invited to play in the MLS College Showcase, and became the first UNH player to be selected to the Generation Adidas class. During his sole season with the school, he scored four goals, including two game winners.

Club career

Early

In 2020, Bombito began playing with CS St-Hubert in the Première ligue de soccer du Québec, where he converted to centre-back.

In 2022, Bombito played for the Seacoast United Phantoms in the USL League Two, helping them win the Northeast Division title and being named to the USL League Two Team of the Year.

Colorado Rapids

On December 21, 2022, Bombito signed a Generation Adidas contract and was selected in the first round (3rd overall) of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids. He became the first player from the University of New Hampshire to be selected in the first round of the draft. After being an unused substitute in the opening match of the season, he suffered a knee injury during training, causing him to miss the next few weeks of action.

On May 7, Bombito made his debut for the Rapids' second team, Colorado Rapids 2, in MLS Next Pro against LA Galaxy II. He made his Major League Soccer debut on May 13. On May 24, he earned his first start for the Rapids in a U.S. Open Cup match against Real Salt Lake. On March 30, 2024, he scored his first MLS goal in a 3–2 victory over Los Angeles FC, which coincided with his 24th birthday.

Nice

On August 19, 2024, Bombito transferred to French Ligue 1 side Nice, signing a contract until June 2028 for an undisclosed transfer fee. In their release, the Rapids stated the sale "breaks the MLS record fee for a center back while also surpassing Colorado’s outbound transfer record." Bombito made his Nice debut on August 25 against Toulouse.

After missing the Southern Derby due to a red card suspension, Bombito played every minute of Nice's remaining games in September, October and November. On September 25, 2024, the Canadian defender made his UEFA Europa League debut, starting in a group phase game versus Real Sociedad.

International career

In June 2023, Bombito was named to the Canadian national team for the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals, as an injury replacement for Derek Cornelius. He became the second-fastest Generation Adidas player to earn a national team call-up (171 days after the draft), behind only national team teammate Cyle Larin. He was then subsequently named to the 23-man squad for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Bombito made his debut in the opening match of the tournament on June 27 against Guadeloupe.

In June 2024, Bombito was named to Canada's squad for the 2024 Copa América. He played every minute of the tournament, providing an assist in the semifinal match against Uruguay, which Canada ultimately lost on penalties.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played December 12, 2024

1. ^ Appearances in Leagues Cup
2. Appearance in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played November 19, 2024

Honours

Individual

• MLS All-Star: 2024

References

1. ^ "Moïse Bombito profile". www.leballonrond.fr.
2. Landry, Nicolas (February 26, 2023). "" Ça va juste trop vite " : la fulgurante progression de Moïse Bombito" ["It's just going too fast": the dazzling progress of Moïse Bombito]. RDS (in French).
3. Pollard, Matt (June 14, 2023). "Moïse Bombito Canada Callup: From Community College to the National Team in Two Years". Burgundy Wave.
4. Vézina, Justin (February 17, 2023). "Moïse Bombito: Toujours déjouer les pronostics" [Moïse Bombito: Always beat the odds]. La Presse (in French).
5. "Charles Auguste et Moïse Lumpungu Bombito, deux anciens des Aigles, repêchés par la Major League Soccer (MLS) !" [Charles Auguste and Moïse Lumpungu Bombito, two former Eagles, drafted by Major League Soccer (MLS)!]. Collège Ahuntsic (in French). February 22, 2023.
6. Lévesque, Dave (June 14, 2023). "Moïse Bombito: le parcours du Québécois le moins connu de la MLS" [Moïse Bombito: the journey of the least known Quebecer in the MLS]. Le Journal de Montréal (in French).
7. "2019-2020 RSEQ All-Star Teams". Collège Ahuntsic. November 19, 2019.
8. Luemba, Richard Jr (January 2023). "Moïse Bombito cogne à la porte de la MLS" [Moïse Bombito knocks on the door of the MLS]. La Premiere Ronde (in French).
9. ^ "Moise Bombito UNH profile". New Hampshire Wildcats.
10. "#9 Men's Soccer Adds 10 Student-Athletes to 2022 Roster". New Hampshire Wildcats. August 11, 2022.
11. "Wildcats Defeat Florida International, 3-0". New Hampshire Wildcats. September 10, 2022.
12. "Men's Soccer Announces Team Awards". New Hampshire Wildcats. May 11, 2023.
13. "Moise Bombito & Marc Hubbard Win ECAC Major Awards". New Hampshire Wildcats. December 19, 2022.
14. "#22 UNH Wins Three America East Major Awards". New Hampshire Wildcats. November 10, 2022.
15. "Three Wildcats Selected in MLS SuperDraft; Moise Bombito Picked Third Overall". New Hampshire Wildcats. December 21, 2022.
16. "Moise Bombito & Yannick Bright Earn All-America Honors". New Hampshire Wildcats. December 9, 2022.
17. "Moise Bombito Named MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist". New Hampshire Wildcats. December 7, 2022.
18. "Moise Bombito & Yannick Bright to Attend MLS College Showcase". New Hampshire Wildcats. December 8, 2022.
19. "Bombito Named to 2023 MLS Generation adidas Class; Watch Party Scheduled for Wednesday". New Hampshire Wildcats. December 19, 2022.
20. "Moise Bombito Selected to Canadian National Team Roster". New Hampshire Wildcats. June 14, 2023.
21. Tougas, Marc (October 22, 2020). "Moise Bombito Lumpungu se révèle en PLSQ" [Moise Bombito Lumpungu reveals himself in PLSQ]. Viau Park (in French).
22. Malo, Marc-Antoine (February 15, 2023). "Moïse Bombito, le Québécois oublié" [Moïse Bombito, the forgotten Quebecer]. Le Journal de Montréal (in French).
23. "Moise Bombito to feature in MLS College Showcase". Seacoast United Phantoms.
24. Kohne, Sydney (January 17, 2023). "Q&A: Get to know SuperDraft pick Moise Bombito". Colorado Rapids.
25. Davidson, Neil (December 19, 2022). "Montreal's Moise Bombito named to Generation Adidas class ahead of MLS SuperDraft". Toronto Star.
26. "Montreal's Bombito selected third by Colorado Rapids in MLS SuperDraft". CTV News. December 22, 2022.
27. Gangué-Ruzic, Alexandre (March 3, 2023). ""It hasn't sunk in yet": Moïse Bombito's looks back on wild 18 month journey from Junior College to MLS". OneSoccer.
28. "Colorado Rapids select Moise Bombito and Oliver Semmle in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas". Colorado Rapids. December 21, 2022.
29. "Canada's Bombito, Afrifa selected in top 10 of MLS SuperDraft". CBC Sports. December 21, 2022.
30. Brown, Brandon. "Moise Bombito 'so grateful' to be picked third in MLS SuperDraft, making UNH soccer history". Portsmouth Herald.
31. Ploen, Brendan (March 7, 2023). "Colorado Rapids rookie center back Moïse Bombito out "a few weeks at least" with MCL injury". Denver Post.
32. Kohne, Sydney (May 18, 2023). ""It's a privilege": Moïse Bombito adds youth, depth and intelligence to Rapids' back line after injury". Colorado Rapids.
33. "Moïse Bombito s'amène en renfort pour le Canada" [Moïse Bombito comes as reinforcements for Canada]. RDS (in French). June 10, 2023.
34. Gregorio, Taylor (May 25, 2023). ""He's got a bright future": Moïse Bombito builds trust within team through first start". Colorado Rapids.
35. Nourse, Braidon (March 30, 2024). "Colorado Rapids ride late burst to beat MLS runner-up LAFC at home". The Denver Post.
36. "Welcome Moïse Bombito!".
37. "Moïse Bombito becomes Canada's third Ligue 1 debutant of the summer with OGC Nice bow". Canadian Soccer Daily. August 25, 2024.
38. "Canada adds MLS defender Moise Bombito to CONCACAF Nations League roster". CBC Sports. June 10, 2023.
39. "Colorado Rapids defender Moïse Bombito called up to Canada Men's National Team ahead of Concacaf Nations League Finals". Colorado Rapids. June 10, 2023.
40. Nightingale, Tom (June 12, 2023). "Canada head coach John Herdman compares first-time CanMNT call-up Moïse Bombito's potential to Jonathan David". Canadian Soccer Daily.
41. Ploen, Brendan (June 18, 2023). "How Colorado Rapids' Moïse Bombito used "gauntlet mentality" to go from community college to Canadian men's national team". The Denver Post.
42. O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (June 19, 2023). "CanMNT announces final 23-man squad for Concacaf Gold Cup". Canadian Premier League.
43. Steiner, Ben (June 28, 2023). "MLS rookies Amhed, Bombito inspire in Canada's Gold Cup opener". Major League Soccer.
44. "CANMNT ANNOUNCE 2024 COPA AMÉRICA ROSTER". Canadian Soccer Association. June 15, 2024.
45. Moïse Bombito at Soccerway
46. ^ "PTS-Ligue Archive" (in French). TSI Sports. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
47. "Moise Bombito 2022 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
48. Moïse Bombito at National-Football-Teams.com

External links

• Moïse Bombito at the Canadian Soccer Association
• Moïse Bombito at Soccerway

Canada squads

v t e Canada squad – 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup 1 St. Clair 2 Brault-Guillard 3 Fraser 4 Miller 5 Vitória 6 Zator 7 Nelson 8 Wotherspoon 9 Cavallini 10 Hoilett 11 Millar 12 Loturi 13 Shaffelburg 14 Bombito 15 McGraw 16 McGill 17 Russell-Rowe 18 Borjan (c) 19 Brym 20 Ahmed 21 Osorio 22 Laryea 23 Kennedy Coach: Herdman v t e Canada squad – 2024 Copa América fourth place 1 St. Clair 2 Johnston 3 De Fougerolles 4 Miller 5 Waterman 6 Piette 7 Eustáquio 8 Koné 9 Larin 10 David 11 Bair 12 Russell-Rowe 13 Cornelius 14 Shaffelburg 15 Bombito 16 Crépeau 17 Buchanan 18 McGill 19 Davies (c) 20 Ahmed 21 Osorio 22 Laryea 23 Millar 24 Choinière 25 Oluwaseyi 26 Hiebert Coach: Marsch

• 2000 births
• Living people
• Canadian people of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent
• Soccer players from Montreal
• Canadian men's soccer players
• Men's association football central defenders
• Iowa Western Reivers men's soccer players
• New Hampshire Wildcats men's soccer players
• CS St-Hubert players
• Seacoast United Phantoms players
• Colorado Rapids draft picks
• Colorado Rapids players
• Colorado Rapids 2 players
• OGC Nice players
• Ligue1 Québec players
• USL League Two players
• MLS Next Pro players
• Major League Soccer players
• Major League Soccer All-Stars
• Ligue 1 players
• Canada men's international soccer players
• 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
• 2024 Copa América players
• Canadian expatriate men's soccer players
• Canadian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
• Canadian expatriate sportspeople in France
• Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
• Expatriate men's footballers in France
• Collège Ahuntsic alumni
• 21st-century Canadian sportsmen