From Monkey Chants to Changemaker

Born in Kinshasa in 1976, Mbo Mpenza moved to Belgium when he was just two months old. His talent on the pitch was evident early on, and by the age of 17, he signed his first professional contract. But his debut in top-level football came with a harsh reality: as he stepped onto the pitch for the first time, monkey chants erupted from the stands.

Rather than let it define him, Mpenza transformed this humiliation into a driving force. Over the next decade, he played for clubs such as Standard Liège, Mouscron, Sporting Lisbon, and Anderlecht. He also represented the Belgian national team between 1998 and 2008, playing in two World Cups and a European Championship. Yet, off the pitch, his legacy was just beginning.

Beyond Football: A Mission to Educate

After retiring from professional football, Mpenza became a vocal advocate for equality and inclusion in sport. Working closely with the Fare Network, UEFA, and other partners, he helped create the Mbo Mpenza Challenge—an annual event combining football tournaments with workshops on racism awareness, first aid, and healthy living.

In 2022, his activism evolved into a holistic framework: the Mbo Mpenza Method. Grounded in three pillars—awareness, education, and action—this method is now applied in schools and football clubs across Belgium. Through role play, physical exercises, and guided emotional reflection, the method equips young people to recognise, confront, and reject discrimination. Mpenza’s personal story is a central teaching tool: a reminder that the fight for dignity can begin in the face of hatred.

Books, Teaching Materials, and Real Impact

He is also the creator of Drôles de Diables (“Funny Little Devils”), a series of illustrated children’s books that tackle discrimination and promote empathy and inclusion. These stories have been officially introduced into the French-speaking Belgian school curriculum, alongside a teaching workbook with exercises on tolerance, fair play, and active citizenship.

Football as a Force for Change

As an ambassador for Fare Network and the UEFA Foundation for Children, Mbo Mpenza uses his voice, his experience, and his platform to foster the next generation of inclusive players and citizens. His journey—from victim of racist abuse to national football hero and social changemaker—offers not just inspiration, but a replicable model of football-based education.

Educators working with young people can work with this story to explore:

How can football help in fighting discrimination?
What would you do if you witnessed injustice on or off the pitch?
What qualities make an athlete a role model?

Find out more

You can follow and engage Mbo Mpenza through the Mbo Mpenza Challenge, supported by Fare Network and the UEFA Foundation for Children. His educational method and workshops are featured in multiple youth programmes across Belgium, including official school curricula in Wallonia.

Bruno Neri

The educational book series Drôles de Diables (in French) introduces young readers to themes of tolerance and anti-discrimination and is available through local educational networks. A pedagogical workbook (in French) further develops these topics in classrooms.

Mbo’s anti-discrimination method is outlined in the brochure La Méthode Mbo Mpenza (in French), available through partner organisations. His recent event, the Mbo Mpenza Challenge 2025, was featured in a news item by TVCom “Le sport contre le harcèlement” (in French), showcasing his role as a mentor for children.

Mbo is also an active Fare Network Ambassador and a graduate of both the UEFA MIP programme and FIFA’s The Next 90’s leadership initiative for retired players.