Guélor Kanga

3.1. Early years in Gabon

Kanga began his senior career in 2007 with AS Mangasport, immediately winning the Gabon Championnat National D1 in his first season (2007-08). During his time at Mangasport, from 2007 to 2010, Kanga made 44 appearances and scored 9 goals. Following this, he moved to Missile FC in 2010, contributing to their 2010-11 championship victory. For Missile FC, he played 42 matches and scored 7 goals between 2010 and 2012. In the 2012-13 season, Kanga joined CF Mounana, where he made 23 appearances and scored 5 goals, also winning the Coupe du Gabon Interclubs, a domestic cup title.

3.2. FC Rostov

On February 9, 2013, Kanga signed a 3.5-year contract with Russian Premier League side FC Rostov. He made his debut in the Russian Premier League on March 9, 2013, against FC Alania Vladikavkaz. During his four seasons at Rostov, Kanga made 70 appearances in the Russian Premier League, scoring seven goals. While Rostov primarily finished mid-table during his early seasons, they secured a second-place finish in his final season.

A notable incident occurred in December 2014 when Kanga received a three-match ban after being sent off during a match against FC Spartak Moscow. This disciplinary action was taken after Kanga reacted with an obscene gesture to racist abuse from Spartak fans. The incident highlighted the persistent issue of racism within football stadiums and the emotional toll it takes on players, underscoring the broader challenges of combating discrimination in the sport.

3.3. Red Star Belgrade (First Stint)

On July 1, 2016, Kanga joined Serbian club Red Star Belgrade on a two-year deal. His transfer was specifically requested by coach Miodrag Božović, who had previously coached Kanga at FC Rostov. Kanga's arrival was historically significant as he was the first Gabonese footballer to play on Serbian soil in 33 years, following Anselme Delicat, who debuted for Serbian club FK Vojvodina in 1983. Delicat was the first African footballer to play in the Yugoslav First League, thereby opening doors for numerous other African players in the region.

Kanga made his official debut for Red Star on July 12, 2016, starting in the first leg of the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round against Maltese club Valletta, where he assisted an equalizer in a 2-1 victory. He scored his first goal for Red Star in the third qualifying round against Ludogorets with a long-range shot. Three days later, he made his Serbian SuperLiga debut against Metalac.

3.4. AC Sparta Prague

Kanga transferred to Czech team Sparta Prague on February 2, 2018, for an undisclosed fee. During his tenure at Sparta Prague, he proved to be a prolific scorer, netting 15 league goals from well-executed penalties and another 13 from open play. His consistent scoring from the penalty spot became a significant asset for the team.

3.5. Red Star Belgrade (Second Stint)

On July 31, 2020, Guélor Kanga returned to Red Star Belgrade, signing a three-year deal. He has since continued to be a vital part of the team, contributing significantly to their success in the Serbian SuperLiga and Serbian Cup, as well as their campaigns in European competitions.

5.1. Serbian Citizenship

In December 2021, Guélor Kanga acquired Serbian citizenship. This step reflects his long-standing connection and integration into Serbian football and society, where he has spent a significant portion of his professional career with Red Star Belgrade.

5.2. Identity Controversy

In April 2021, the Congolese Association Football Federation (FECOFA) launched a lawsuit against Gabon, alleging that Kanga's identity had been falsified. FECOFA claimed that Kanga was born in 1986 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), not in 1990 in Gabon, and that his birth name was in fact Kiaku-Kiaku Kianga. It was further alleged that Gabonese authorities provided him with a new, falsified birth certificate to grant him Gabonese citizenship.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, in May 2021, reports emerged that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) began its own investigation. This inquiry was prompted by allegations that Kanga's mother had died in 1986, which would directly contradict his official birth date of September 1, 1990. These persistent allegations have raised serious questions about the integrity of player registration processes within African football and have highlighted the broader issue of age and identity fraud in the sport, touching upon fundamental human rights issues.

6.1. Club

Updated as of match played February 26, 2025.

6.2. International

Updated as of match played November 18, 2024.

Scores and results list Gabon's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kanga goal.