Lionel Mpasi’s smile as he took the decisive penalty reflects the serenity of a goalkeeper who, literally and figuratively, has gained courage during a difficult career. His journey has led him to aim for a place in the semi-finals of the AFCON this Friday in Abidjan.
“When I saw him smiling, I laughed to myself. I was sure he was going to score” Didier Santini, coach of Rodez in Ligue 2, told AFP. He watched the round of 16 on television in France.
The goalkeeper scored in a relaxed manner the penalty that led the Democratic Republic of Congo to victory over Egypt (1-1, 8-7 after penalties). A few moments earlier, he had perplexed Mohamed Abou Gabal, the Egyptian goalkeeper, who, despite his expertise, hit the post.
“I scored them in training. When I looked at Abou Gabal, I saw the nervousness in his eyes, I tried to take it out of context and shot…”, Mpasi told Canal Plus, about the kick that put the Congolese through to the quarter-finals against Guinea.
“I had the feeling that he was experiencing a moment of happiness, of fulfillment, that he said to himself: now, for me, this is and will be an extra”, continued Santini.
The coach recalled the “unusual” career of Mpasi-Nzau, “who started each season as a substitute, both at Nacional and in Ligue 2. He maintained the same attitude even when he wasn’t on the pitch and didn’t hold any grudges. With a lot of effort, he became a starter a year and a half ago, reaching maturity at the age of 27, 28 (now 29),” he said.
“At Rodez, we have a second goalkeeper, Sébastien Cibois, who played the first six games of last season under the coach at the time, Laurent Peyrelade, ndr. He knows how to remain calm and serene” he continued.
Called up to the Leopards through the “Cédric Bakambu network”, responsible for recruiting many of the current players, Mpasi, who reached the quarter-finals of the 2011 U-17 World Cup with France, also started as a reserve in Congo.
“I’ve been in this situation long enough to understand that I have to be patient, work hard and wait my turn. I don’t see any problem in returning to the number two position in the national team. Being called up is pure happiness. When I’m on the bench, I hear the national anthem playing and see everyone singing, it’s an indescribable feeling” he told the French second division website.
