Marc-Vivien Foé Prize 2023: Chancel Mbemba, first of his kind

Chancel Mbemba is the winner. The Congolese was named Marc-Vivien Foé Prize 2023 winner on Tuesday 30 May. The award goes to the best African player in Ligue 1 and is decided by a jury assembled by RFI and France 24. The Olympique de Marseille player finished ahead of Ivorian Seko Fofana, last season's winner, and Nigerian Terem Moffi. It is also the first time a defender has won the award. What is more, Mbemba, nicknamed "demi-dieu" (demigod), is the second Congolese to take the prize after Gaël Kakuta in 2021. He is only the second Marseille player to win it, after Ghanaian André Ayew in 2015.

To finish first, Chancel Mbemba collected 207 points from a jury of around a hundred participants. It is worth noting, though, that his lead over second-placed Seko Fofana is only 11 points. Both players are well clear of Terem Moffi, who picked up 125 points. The initial shortlist contained 11 names. Having arrived on a free last summer after his contract at Porto expired, Chancel Mbemba has had an excellent season, with 44 appearances in all competitions, 38 of them as a starter, for 7 goals (2nd-highest scorer at OM) and 1 assist. In Ligue 1, the 2023 Marc-Vivien Foé Prize winner played 35 games, 31 of them starts, scoring 5 goals.

Chancel Mbemba is the second Congolese player to win it, after Gaël Kakuta in 2021
The former Porto defender joined Marseille on 15 July 2022 as a free agent, on a three-season deal
Listen to him here ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/3OMSFnvHbp

— RFI (@RFI) May 30, 2023

A goal achieved

Indeed, from the moment he arrived in France, Chancel Mbemba had the Marc-Vivien Foé Prize in the back of his mind. "Winning this trophy was one of my goals too. Fofana won it and, before him, it was Gaël Kakuta, a Congolese like me. When I arrived in France, I told myself I had to work flat out and show my qualities to everyone, to do the same as them and make history. It's thanks to them that I won. I have a strong relationship with Gaël Kakuta. We're always together with the national team. He was an example to follow when I came to France," said the 28-year-old to RFI, also expressing his pride. "I want to thank everyone who voted for me. Just being on the list isn't easy, because there are a lot of Africans in Ligue 1, and I didn't think I'd win it. Today it's done, and I say: 'Thank you!' As a Congolese, it's a pleasure. On top of that, in my first year in France, I really worked hard, because there is a lot of talent in Ligue 1. But, thanks to God, I won".

Marc-Vivien Foé Prize roll of honour

2023: Chancel Mbemba (OM/DR Congo)

2022: Seko Fofana (RC Lens/Ivory Coast)

2021: Gaël Kakuta (RC Lens/DR Congo)

2020: Victor Osimhen (LOSC/Nigeria)

2019: Nicolas Pépé (LOSC/Ivory Coast)

2018: Karl Toko-Ekambi (Angers SCO/Cameroon)

2017: Jean Michaël Seri (OGC Nice/Ivory Coast)

2016: Sofiane Boufal (LOSC/Morocco)

2015: André Ayew (Olympique de Marseille/Ghana)

2014: Vincent Enyeama (LOSC/Nigeria)

2013: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (AS Saint-Etienne/Gabon)

2012: Younès Belhanda (Montpellier HSC/Morocco)

2011: Gervinho (LOSC/Ivory Coast)

2010: Gervinho (LOSC/Ivory Coast)

2009: Marouane Chamakh (Girondins de Bordeaux/Morocco)