Quick Facts
Biography
Christopher Katongo (born 31 August 1982) is a Zambian international footballer and plays professionally for Zambia Premier Soccer League club Green Buffaloes F.C. as a striker. He is an Africa Cup of Nations winner and won the BBC's African Footballer of the Year award in 2012, winning just over 40% of the public vote. His win is stated to have inspired a number of young players in Zambia.
Club career
Born in Mufulira, Katongo played with Butondo West Tigers and Kalulushi Modern Stars before moving to Green Buffaloes in 2001. Whilst at Buffaloes, Katongo twice scored four times in CAF Confederation Cup games. In 2004, Katongo moved to South African side Jomo Cosmos, before moving to Danish side Brøndby in January 2007. In August 2008, Katongo moved again, this time to German club Arminia Bielefeld. In July 2010, he moved to Greece to play for Skoda Xanthi.
In July 2011, Katongo signed a two-and-half-year contract with Chinese Super League side Henan Construction. He made his Super League debut on 10 July in a 0–0 home draw against Changchun Yatai. His first goal for Henan came, in a 2–1 away defeat, against Dalian Shide on 10 September 2011.
In March 2014, Katongo joined South African side Golden Arrows on a four-month deal, three months after leaving the Chinese club.
International career
Katongo made his international debut for Zambia in 2003, and after scoring a hat-trick against South Africa in September 2007, Katongo was promoted in the Zambian Army from corporal to sergeant.
Katongo has appeared in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
Katongo won the Player of the Tournament during the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, in which he was the captain for the winning side, having beaten Côte d'Ivoire 8–7 on penalties after a goalless match, scoring the first of the penalties himself.
He was called up to Zambia's 23-man squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
In October 2014 he was thrown out of a Zambian training camp, and in December 2014 he was left out of Zambia's preliminary squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
He was in the 2016 preliminary squad for the CHAN.
International goals
| No | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 13 August 2005 | Mmabatho Stadium, Mahikeng, South Africa |  South Africa | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2006 COSAFA Cup |
| 2. | 30 January 2006 | Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt | South Africa | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2006 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 3. | 22 July 2006 | Independence Stadium, Windhoek, Namibia |  Malawi | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2006 COSAFA Cup |
| 4. | 8 September 2007 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa | South Africa | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 5. | 2–0 | |||||
| 6. | 3–0 | |||||
| 7. | 26 January 2008 | Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana |  Cameroon | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 8. | 30 January 2008 | Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana |  Egypt | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 9. | 21 June 2008 | Konkola Stadium, Chililabombwe, Zambia |  Swaziland | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10. | 17 January 2010 | Estádio Nacional da Tundavala, Lubango, Angola | Cameroon | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2010 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 11. | 4 June 2011 | Nkoloma Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia |  Mozambique | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 12. | 2–0 | |||||
| 13. | 4 September 2011 | Stade Said Mohamed Cheikh, Mitsamiouli, Comoros |  Comoros | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 14. | 25 January 2012 | Estadio de Bata, Bata, Equatorial Guinea |  Libya | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2012 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 15. | 29 January 2012 | Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea |  Equatorial Guinea | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2012 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 16. | 4 February 2012 | Estadio de Bata, Bata, Equatorial Guinea |  Sudan | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2012 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 17. | 9 June 2012 | Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia |  Ghana | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 18. | 8 September 2012 | Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia |  Uganda | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 19. | 8 June 2013 | Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia |  Lesotho | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 20. | 6 June 2013 | Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, United States |  Japan | 1–0 | 3–4 | Friendly |
| 21. | 23 January 2016 | Umuganda Stadium, Gisenyi, Rwanda | Uganda | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2016 African Nations Championship |
| 22. | 4 June 2016 | Estadio 24 de Setembro, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau |  Guinea-Bissau | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
Coaching career
As of December 2016 he had begun training for his coaching qualifications.
Personal life
His younger brother Felix is also an international player.