Ben Cabango

1.1. Birth and Family Background

Benjamin George Cabango was born on May 30, 2000, in Cardiff, Wales. He comes from a mixed family background, with an Angolan father, Paolo, who was also a football coach, and a Welsh mother. He has a younger brother named Theo Cabango, who has also pursued a professional sports career in rugby union for Cardiff Rugby.

1.2. Education

During his formative years, Cabango attended Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr, a Welsh-language comprehensive school. His attendance at a Welsh-language school highlights his upbringing within the Welsh cultural and linguistic environment.

2.1. Youth Career

Cabango began his football journey at a young age with local amateur side Maindy Corries, where his father, Paolo, served as a coach. He then joined the youth academy of Newport County, playing for their under-13 to under-15 teams. At the age of 14, he transitioned to the academy of Swansea City, where he continued his development. During his time in Swansea's youth setup, he notably captained the under-19 side to victory in the FAW Welsh Youth Cup in 2018. He also contributed to the success of the under-23 team, helping them reach the final of the Premier League Cup.

2.2. Professional Debut and Loan Spells

In June 2018, Benjamin Cabango signed his first professional contract with Swansea City. Shortly after, he was loaned to The New Saints, the reigning champions of the Welsh Premier League, on a six-month deal. He made his senior professional debut for The New Saints on July 10, 2018, in a UEFA Champions League first qualifying round match against Macedonian side KF Shkëndija, which resulted in a 5-0 defeat. In the return leg on July 17, 2018, Cabango scored his first senior goal, contributing to a 4-0 victory for The New Saints; however, his team was ultimately eliminated on aggregate.

2.3. Swansea City First Team

Upon his return to Swansea City, Cabango made his professional debut for the club on August 13, 2019, in a 3-1 victory over Northampton Town in the first round of the EFL Cup. He made his league debut as a substitute in a match against Huddersfield Town on November 26, 2019. Recognizing his talent and potential, Swansea City signed him to a new contract in March 2020, extending his commitment to the club until 2023. In January 2025, following the accepted bid for Matt Grimes, Benjamin Cabango was appointed as the club captain, signifying his growing influence and leadership within the team.

3.1. Youth National Teams

Cabango has been a consistent presence in the Welsh youth national team setup. He made one appearance for the Wales U-17 squad in 2017, without scoring. From 2018 to 2019, he earned ten caps for the Wales U-19 team, scoring one goal. In 2019, he further progressed to the Wales U-21 side, making five appearances without scoring.

3.2. Senior National Team

Benjamin Cabango made his senior international debut for the Wales national team on September 3, 2020. He came on as a second-half substitute in a 2020-21 UEFA Nations League B match against Finland, a game which Wales won 1-0. His consistent performance led to his selection for the Wales squad for the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 tournament in May 2021. Further recognition of his abilities came in November 2022 when he was named in the Wales squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar, marking his participation in one of football's most prestigious global tournaments.

5.1. Club Statistics

¹ Appearance(s) in EFL Championship play-offs, UEFA Champions League, and UEFA Europa League

5.2. International Statistics