Florent Ibenge Calls It Quits As Leopards Coach

Florent Ibenge has officially announced his resignation as DR Congo national team head coach, Ducor Sports reports.

The 57-year-old made the statement on Wednesday, after being in charge of the Leopards for the last five years.

“I just spoke with the president. I came to tell him my desire and my decision to stop with the national team. Thank you all, ” he said.

“Thanks to President Omari for picking me up in AS Vita Club to give me this position of responsibility, thanks to the leaders of Vita Club who allowed me to come to the national team, President Amisi, Papa Kazadi, supporters, to the press. Thank you to my collaborators.”

Ibenge was appointed as DR Congo coach in 2014 as a replacement of Frenchman Claude Le Roy, whom he served with as the assistant coach.

During his tenure, Ibenge led the Leopards to a third-place finish at AFCON 2015, the 2016 CHAN title and the quarter-finals of Gabon 2017.

The Congolese-born tactician played lower league football in Belgium, France and Germany.