DR Congo striker Cedric Bukambu has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 30.
His decision comes after DR Congo’s embarrassing failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
Bukambu, who plays for French Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille, ended the qualification campaign with three assists.
The prolific forward decided to play for DR Congo in 2015 after former Leopards coach Florent Ibenge convinced him to switch his international allegiance to the Central African side.
Bukambu had represented France up to under-20 level, totaling 8 goals in 38 games and winning the 2010 UEFA European Championship for the under-19s between 2009, and 2011.
He made his international debut for Congo in June 2015 and scored 13 goals in 40 outings for his country.
“The least was we should just qualify for the FIFA World Cup, but unfortunately we couldn’t achieve it,” Bukambu posted on his Twitter handle.
“In victory as in defeat I have always taken my responsibilities. That won’t change today.
“It was an honor to have worn the DRC jersey.”
Bukambu started his career at French side Sochaux, where he progressed from the youth ranks prior to being promoted to the first team in 2010.
The first African ever to receive La Liga’s Player of the Month award, Bakambu was one of the top scorers in La Liga, with nine goals, when he quit Villarreal.
He joined the Spanish club in 2015 from Turkish side Bursaspor, where he had scored 21 goals in his sole season with the club.
He switched to Marseille in January 2022 on a free transfer after leaving Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan in November 2021.
He spent three years in China where he was the league’s top scorer for the 2020 season with 14 goals in 19 matches.
