Our Albert Sambi Lokonga Biography portrays Facts about his Childhood Story, Early Life, Parents (Desiré and Joseé), Family, Siblings (Paul-José and Fabrice).
More so, Sambi’s Girlfriend/Wife to be, Lifestyle, Personal Life, Net Worth, etc.
In a nutshell, this memoir contains the Full History of a footballer – who became successful by learning from his brother’s mistakes and his Dad’s guidance.
Lifebogger begins Sambi’s Story from his boyhood days until when he achieved success in the beautiful game.
To stimulate your autobiography appetite on the engaging nature of Sambi’s Biography, we’ve deemed it fit to present you with his Early Life and Rise Gallery.
Behold, the Life journey of Albert Sambi Lokonga.
Without questions, Sambi is a versatile footballer, a man with excellent technical skills. He can solve midfield problems with his instincts/intelligence.
Despite the accolades to his name, we realize that – only a few fans have read a concise piece of Lokonga’s Biography.
Don’t worry, Lifebogger is here – at your service. Now, without further ado, let us begin.
Albert Sambi Lokonga Childhood Story:
For Biography starters, he bears the nickname – Mister cool. Also, the full names – Albert-Mboyo Sambi Lokonga. The Belgian professional footballer came to the world on the 22nd day of October, 1999.
Albert Sambi Lokonga, now aged 23 years and 5 months old, was born to his mother, Joseé Lokonga, and his father, Desiré Lokonga, in the city of Brussels. Please note; this is the largest municipality and the capital of Belgium.
Sambi Lokonga came to the world as one among many children, born out of the union between his parents.
Behold, the two people who mean the world to him. Joseé (Sambi’s Mum) and Desiré Lokonga (Sambi’s Dad).
Early Life and Growing-Up Years:
Lokonga spent his childhood days in his hometown alongside his parents and siblings – in the beautiful town of Verviers, located in the Belgian province of Liège.
As a little boy, people perceived Sambi as someone whom you would never have dull moments with – all thanks to the teachings he received about family companionship.
Among all his siblings (Brothers and sisters), he was particularly close to one person. It is no other than his brother (Paul-Jose M’Poku) – who is a professional footballer.
Paul-Jose M’Poku is Sambi’s oldest Sibling. In fact, he is multitasked between being a Big Brother or a Superhero.
Put simply, Paul-Jose M’Poku was the type who never allowed little Sambi to wander in the dark alone.
It is a general notion that making mistakes is a normal part of life.
Paul-Jose M’Poku is the type of brother who took responsibility for his mistakes – (which we’ll tell you later in our Bio). He ensured his little brother (Sambi) learned from it as well.
Maybe you are not aware, Albert Sambi Lokonga also spent his boyhood moments with another of his brother.
He goes by the name Fabrice. We’ll tell you more about him in the later part of our Biography.
Albert Sambi Lokonga Family Background:
The Belgian footballer is from a middle-class home. Also, research conducted shows that his Dad is a very versatile man.
We learned he did different jobs to feed his family. In fact, both of Lokonga’s parents are hardworking. Now let’s tell you about their jobs.
Starting with Sambi’s father, he is a Belgian air traffic controller. Before gaining this job, Désiré Lokonga worked for a bottled water company. Pictured below, Big Daddy manages a mighty family.
On the other hand, Albert Sambi Lokonga’s Mother (Joseé) is a career woman. She, alongside her husband, must be incredibly proud of their son’s achievements.
Albert Sambi Lokonga Family Origin:
Judging by his appearance, you can tell he has African roots. Just like Christopher Nkunku, Congolese blood flows through his veins. Albert Sambi Lokonga’s parents are of similar origin. They belong to the Afro-Belgian ethnicity.
Just in case you’re not aware, his Dad (Désiré Lokonga) once played football – way back in the DR Congo. Hence, it is not surprising to notice his three sons (Albert, Fabrice, and Paul) following in his footsteps.
Paul-José M’Poku, the elder brother of Sambi Lokonga was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – at a time his parents and the entire family lived in the Central African country.
We noticed that Sambi Lokonga’s brother (Paul-José M’Poku) was born in the year 1992 – which is four years before the First Congo War.
Fabrice (his immediate elder brother) was born in 1995, a year before Congo’s civil war.
To safeguard the future of their children, Desiré and Joseé Lokonga joined the hundreds of households who migrated their families to Belgium – all because of the war.
Thankfully, Albert Sambi Lokonga’s mother (José) gave birth to him, two years after the Congo war – also nicknamed Africa’s First World War.
Indeed, the decision made by Sambi’s parents saved their entire family.
Other European Footballers with Congolese Blood – his Brothers from Different Mums:
Just to keep you posted, Albert Sambi Lokonga shares similar family roots with these footballers.
Belgians in this category include the likes of ; Christian Benteke, Dedryck Boyata, Romelu Lukaku, Christian Kabasele, Michy Batshuayi and Youri Tielemans.
From the Non-Belgian side, we found the following names (European footballers) with Congolese heritage.
They include; Kevin Mbabu, Claude Makélélé, Denis Zakaria, and Ex Chelsea star – Jose Bosingwa.
Albert Sambi Lokonga Education and Career Buildup:
Reaching the compulsory school age, the football enthusiast got inducted into a learning system that suits his ilk.
Back then, he learned at the Pré-Javez neighborhood, that’s really where he mastered play football.
Before Sambi began his soccer education with Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, his eldest brother (aged 16) just gained admission into a big London club – Tottenham Hotspur academy.
Sadly, Paul-José M’Poku’s career with Spurs became a disaster.
For Sambi Lokonga’s parents, the decision to make their 16-year-old son leave Belgium for England (that early) was termed a grave mistake.
Desiré (his Mum) and Joseé Lokonga (his Dad) vowed never to repeat such a mistake – for their next footballing son.
Sambi learned from his brother’s other mistakes and used Paul-José M’Poku’s failure at Spurs as a cautionary tale.
Moving to England remained a target, but it would never come too early – says his Mother and Father.
Albert Sambi Lokonga Biography – Football Story:
Approaching the age of ten, the youngster (after so many games of street football) moved his childhood aspiration to the next level.
Following a successful trial, an excited Sambi (at age ten and in the year 2010) got enrolled with Anderlecht youth academy.
According to research, he was also eligible to join Standard Liège – an academy that has produced stars like his elder brother (Paul-José M’Poku) as well as Axel Witsel.
Surprisingly, he refused to join the academy of his sibling.
In an interview, Sambi told the media why his parents refused him to join his brother’s club. In his words;
My Dad decided not to put us in the same club to avoid unnecessary comparisons.
Again, imagine that my brother has problems with Standard Liège’s management. It means I may suffer the consequence.
Albert Sambi Lokonga Bio – The Road to Fame Story:
Similar to what Leander Dendoncker did, the young prodigy worked his way up through the Anderlecht ranks.
Thanks to his dedication and hard work, Sambi (pictured here) emerged as the most important player – for his age group.
In that Anderlecht academy, there was only one boy who could match up with Sambi. That person is no other than Jeremy Doku.
When it comes to speed dribbling with arrogance – especially to annoy opponents, Doku does it better than no one else.
As far as midfield is concerned, Albert Sambi was seen as the most advanced midfielder in the Anderlecht youth system.
Sambi’s deep-lying playmaking abilities skyrocketed him into achieving academy graduation in the year 2018.
Albert Sambi Lokonga Biography – The Success Story:
Following academy graduation, the midfield prodigy immediately emerged as one of the key pillars of the Anderlecht first team.
Lokonga saw himself converting from an advanced midfielder to a deep-lying and playmaking leader – for his team.
The role of Vincent Kompany:
Upon retiring from Man City, the Legend got a job with Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht – as a player-coach.
Vincent Kompany began having a vital role in Lokonga’s professional life – from the moment he got the managerial job.
One day, the Captain of Anderlecht – the person of Hendrik Van Crombrugge – got a long-term injury. Despite Lokonga’s age, Kompany chose him to lead the Belgian club.
Prior to the decision, everyone knew Sambi Lokonga – as not being that guy who gives big speeches in the dressing room.
Despite that personality, everyone wanted him to lead the squad- all thanks to his special qualities on the pitch.
Indeed, wearing the captain’s armband was an enormous honor. Lokonga, in no time, had his leadership first test as a captain of his club.
This happened when he sorted out an on-pitch noisy quarrel between two of his teammates – Lukas Nmecha and Michel Vlapp.
The Rainbow Controversy that gave him Fame:
Sometimes, being a leader of your team also brings added scrutiny – something Lokonga has faced.
Once upon a time, he once found himself at the center of a controversy. Fans accused Sambi of disrespecting the league-issued rainbow armband.
As a captain, Sambi Lokonga showed a lack of support for the LGBTQ community by covering their rainbow captain band with Anderlecht’s usual white armband.
As expected, his actions brought anger from the League.
They summoned Lokonga to explain his actions – whether it was because of a superstitious belief or he did it on purpose – because of a dislike of LGBT.
To allow peace, Sambi promised to wear the rainbow armband in the following match.
The Arsenal Transfer:
Having the likes of Matteo Guendouzi and Dani Ceballos – all gone. Again, Lucas Torreira and Granit Xhaka – likely on their exit doors.
Even Joe Willock going out of the door, THE GUNNERS BOSS – Mikel Arteta had to act.
Observing the controversy surrounding Sambi, the Arsenal manager decided to cast his summer transfer nets into the Belgian sea.
Initially planning on bringing Houssem Aouar to the Emirates, Arteta made a U-Turn as he got tempted by a Lokonga deal.
Precisely on the 19th day of July 2021, the news (Arsenal sign Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht) became the headline for the day.
Sambi joins the likes of Nuno Tavares who also signed for the London big boys – around the summer of 2021. Also, he would be proud to have a solid partnership with Thomas Partey and Smith Rowe – a deadly midfield combo.
Without a doubt, the time was right for him to join the London club. Sambi Lokonga’s parents must have given him his blessings – also his elder brothers. Hence, there is a high possibility of success in the EPL.
Who he be successful at Arsenal?
Sambi could, one day, be as dominant in midfield, just like Yaya Toure and Kevin De Bruyne.
No doubt, if he receives some trust from the coach and the supporters, he would develop into a superstar. This video explains why Arsenal signed Sambi.
In recent years, Gunners’ recruitment policy has rightly come under scrutiny because of bad transfer decisions.
Although, the signing of Lokonga might signal a shift for the better. The boy is a passer, a schemer, and a reader of the game. The rest, as we say, of Sambi’s Biography is now history.
Albert Sambi Lokonga Girlfriend or Wife to be?
For a footballer, being able to find a person you naturally love (especially after you have made it) is the best feeling ever. For Sambi, he is (at the time of writing) in search of a girlfriend or wife material.
Likely, very soon, his career would stabilize with Premier League football. We think (very soon), Sambi might make it public his girlfriend or wife-to-be.
The Baller must be hungry to have children, among whom we are likely to have the third generation footballers in his family.
Personal Life away from Soccer:
Away from everything football, who is Sambi? In this section, we’ll unveil more facts that would help you know him better.
First thing first, do you love animals? If yes, then you aren’t alone. Sambi is a huge animal lover. We notice that – during one of his visits to Saif Ahmad Belhasa, a Dubai billionaire and entrepreneur.
Behold one of Sambi’s animal love moments.
Away from football, you’re likely to find Sambi relaxing at the poolside. As usual, he does that to reduce stress and speed up recovery.
During this time, Sambi keeps all by himself – in the name of restoring his inner strength.
Whether on water or in the desert, the fun doesn’t stop for Sambi. The Belgian understands a dolphin’s behaviours and sure knows how to interact with the friendly aquatic mammal.
Albert Sambi Lokonga Lifestyle:
As research puts it, he isn’t someone who gets excessively proud of his fortunes. Again, Sambi is a man who dislikes giving self-satisfaction talk about his wealth.
Nevertheless, he knows how to spend his monies well – and that is evident in the cars we see around him.
In one of his inspirational videos that has a mixture of his personality and lifestyle, we spotted what looks like Sambi’s car. Truly, the Belgian is a man of class.
Albert Sambi Lokonga Family Life:
One quality of a close-knit household is the fact that they lean on each other in moments of need – and always have each other’s back. Sambi’s family is a circle of strength and love.
This section of our Biography will tell you more about his immediate and extended family (relatives). Without further ado, let’s begin.
Albert Sambi Lokonga Father:
As far as the family is concerned, football began with the head of the house. Sambi’s Dad – Désiré Lokonga – started out as a professional footballer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is a man who knows the intricacies of football.
When the First Congo War broke out in his country, he could only focus on saving his family and not his career.
It was hard for Désiré to deal with retirement from football. As a result, he vowed to continue living his dreams through his three sons.
Albert Sambi Lokonga Mother:
Managing a home made up of male footballers ( both active and retired), including daughters, seems more like a herculean task.
Thankfully, Sambi’s Mum – Joseé Lokonga – sees it as manageable. Pictured below, she has come a long way. Joseé is the Mother everyone wishes they had.
Albert Sambi Lokonga Brothers:
The most popular of his siblings are Fabrice and Paul-José. Although not as socially active as the Pogba brothers, these men have their own unique style or swagger.
Fabrice – who is less popular – is the middle of the siblings. He is three years younger than Paul-José (his elder brother) and four years older than Albert – whom this Biography is all about.
Fabrice is the strongest of his brothers, while Albert himself is the tallest. He is also the widest – thanks to a claim that he did Taekwondo way back in his childhood.
This section of our Bio tells you more about Albert Sambi Lokonga’s brothers. Let’s start with Paul-José M’Poku – the eldest in the family.
About Paul-José Mpoku – Albert Sambi Lokonga Brother:
He was born in Kinshasa Zaire (DR Congo) on the 19th day of April 1992. This makes him seven years older than his little brother – whom our Biography is all about.
Unlike Fabrice and Albert (his younger brothers), Paul-José bears the surname Mpoku.
Despite having his family nationalize in Belgium (and himself gaining a Belgium citizen), Paul decided to play football for his motherland – the DR Congo.
At the time of filling this Biography, he (a winger) had just signed for the Turkish club – Konyaspor.
Once upon a time, football witnessed – The rivalry of the sons of Joseé and Desiré. This was the period between 2017 and 2020 when Albert and Paul rivalled each other with Anderlecht and Standard Liège shirts.
They were blood brothers, but not under the same flag.
About Fabrice Sambi Lokonga:
Sometimes, we often ignore that there is a third brother. Like his elder brother (Paul-José Mpoku), Fabrice’s birth country is DR Congo.
Desiré and Joseé welcomed him on the 8th day of January 1995 – meaning he is four years older than Albert.
Fabrice, Like his elder and younger brother, is also a footballer – though not as successful as them. As I write this Bio, he plays as a Centre Forward for Erpeldange, a football club in Luxembourg.
Albert Sambi Lokonga Cousin:
Records from TransferMarket suggest his name as Eliézer Mpoku. He is Albert Sambi’s little cousin, a defensive midfield born in 2001.
Rather than leaving DR Congo to Belgium, Eliézer Mpoku settled in Switzerland – his birth country.
Albert Sambi Lokonga Sister-in-law:
She goes by the name Melissa. This beautiful lady is Paul-José M’Poku’s wife. Research has it that she – together with her husband loves to go on desert tours.
Melissa was pregnant for their son, Isaiah, during one of those holiday trips.
Melissa Mpoku is more than just a wife to her husband. While conducting research, we observed she once played the role of a fitness trainer – to her lover.
Albert Sambi Lokonga Nephew:
His name is Isaiah M’Poku, and he is the son of Paul-José and Melissa. Isaiah is more than a nephew to Sambi.
Frequently, the footballer refers to him as his son. Likely, Isaiah would be the first person of his family’s third generation of footballers. Let’s not forget that Sambi’s Dad was a former footballer.
Albert Sambi Lokonga Relatives:
During his first visit to Congo – as a professional footballer, he got the chance to enjoy his parents’ hometown. Sambi met his extended family members for the first time – during the visit.
Information from the internet shows a lack of documentation about the identity of Sambi’s relatives. But one thing is sure, they form the grassroots of his supporters – back in Congo.
Albert Sambi Lokonga Facts:
Having journeyed with you throughout this Bio, we’ll wrap up by telling you more truth about the midfield prodigy. With little ado, let us begin.
Arsenal Salary Breakdown:
| EARNINGS/TENURE | Sambi Lokonga Salary in Pound sterling (£) |
|---|---|
| Per Year: | £3,124,800 |
| Per Month: | £260,400 |
| Per Week: | £60,000 |
| Per Day: | £8,571 |
| Per Hour: | £357 |
| Per Minute: | £5.9 |
| Every Second: | £0.09 |
Since you started viewing Sambi Lokonga‘s Bio, this is what he has earned.
About Sambi Lokonga Nicknames:
Sambi has long worn the nickname of Danny Welbeck. This is because he had the same cut as the former Man United and Arsenal striker. In case you are not aware, he also has Danny Welbeck’s old Arsenal number – 23.
Mind you that is not his only nickname. His friends also call him Babert or Alberto – in reference to his first name – Albert.
Simbi got his first name from his Mother …. who could have done that better? Speaking about the reason for the name, the Baller said;
She told me they called a lot of kings like that.
Last but not least, fans nickname Simbi Mister cool, because he always looks relaxed.
Why he wears No 48:
During his days with Anderlecht, Sambi wore the number 48 for a reason. That number is a sign of reference to his town’s postcode – NDLA: 4800.
For years, Sambi Lokonga’s family lived in Verviers, a town that made him successful.
Someday, on a beautiful Thursday evening, Simbi got honoured by his hometown, Verviers, where he received the prestigious Jean Voisin trophy. This is a town never forgets her heroes.
Sambi Lokonga’s Religion:
Like many footballers with Congolese African roots, Lokonga is very religious. He believes in the Christianity faith and doesn’t have issues about raising their hands to signal – as a sign of praise to God.
Sambi Lokonga FIFA Facts:
Truth be told, Sambi is a complete footballer – a man who is a jack of all trades. The only area where Sambi lacks (below average) is taking penalties. His elder brother Paul-José M’Poku, also possesses a similar quality.
Wiki Summary:
The table below reveals concise information about Albert Sambi Lokonga’s Biography.
| WIKI INQUIRIES | BIOGRAPHY ANSWERS |
|---|---|
| Full Name: | Albert-Mboyo Sambi Lokonga |
| Nickname: | Simba |
| Date of Birth: | 22 October 1999 |
| Place of Birth: | Brussels, Belgium |
| Parents: | Joseé (his Mum) and Desiré Lokonga (his Dad) |
| Full Age: | 23 years and 5 months old |
| Family Origin and Nationality: | Belgium and DR Congo |
| Siblings: | Paul-José Mpoku (Oldest Brother) and Fabrice Sambi Lokonga (Immediate older brother) |
| Cousin: | Eliézer Mpoku. |
| Sister In Law: | Melissa Mpoku (Paul-José Mpoku's Wife) |
| Height: | 1.83 meters OR 6 feet 0 inches |
| Zodiac: | Libra |
| Net Worth: | 2 million Euros |
| Playing Position: | Midfielder |
| Player Agent: | Stirr Asssociates |
EndNote:
Albert Sambi Lokonga hails from a football family. His father Desiré Lokonga, was a former footballer who had his career in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – before the First Congo War broke out.
While having a much-improved life in Belgium, Joseé (Sambi’s Mum) and Desiré (his Dad) gave birth to him. It was hard for Desiré to deal with retirement, so he ensured that Sambi and his brother lived the family dreams.
Paul-José M’Poku (Sambi’s eldest brother) ensured he learned life values. Among his siblings (including Fabrice – his immediate younger), he was the one who led by example – thus creating a picture of what is possible.
This didn’t come without Paul making career mistakes and ensuring his brothers view his mistakes as a learning ground.
Today, Sambi is glad – that he has made the right choice. His success would never be possible without help from his parents and big brothers.
Appreciation Note:
Thank you for staying with us in reading Albert Sambi Lokonga’s Biography.
At Lifebogger, we deliver football stories about Belgian Footballers – with fairness and accuracy.
Asides from Sambi Lokonga’s Bio, we got other great Belgian football stories worth reading. Surely, the memoirs of these footballers – Leandro Trossard, Dennis Praet and Adnan Januzaj would interest you.
At Lifebogger, we deliver football stories about Belgian Footballers – with fairness and accuracy. Please reach out to us – if you notice anything that doesn’t look right.
Hale Hendrix
Hi there! I am Hale Hendrix, a passionate football enthusiast and writer dedicated to uncovering the untold stories of footballers' childhood and biography. With a deep love for the beautiful game, I have spent countless hours researching and interviewing players to bring to light the lesser-known details of their lives.
