Shabani Nonda Death Rumour Debunked: Congolese Legend Alive and Well in Kinshasa
By BBC Sport Africa
The internet erupted in confusion and concern on Tuesday evening following false reports that Congolese football legend Shabani Nonda had passed away. The rumour, which began circulating via a Twitter account, spread rapidly across social media platforms and quickly sent shockwaves through the Democratic Republic of Congo and beyond.
As tributes began to pour in for the former AS Monaco and Blackburn Rovers striker, many fans and fellow professionals sought to verify the authenticity of the claim. The news, however, was swiftly debunked by multiple credible Congolese sources.
Leading the rebuttal was Léopardsfoot.com, a respected Congolese football news outlet, which issued a strong denial after directly speaking to Nonda in Kinshasa.
“Shabani Nonda is not dead! It’s pathetic to see that today, just to gain a few likes on Facebook, people are ready to announce the death of others,” the website wrote.
“This news has shaken Kinshasa and social networks, but we can confirm that Nonda is alive. We saw him yesterday at his home. He is in good health and saddened by such baseless rumours.”
The 48-year-old former DR Congo international, widely regarded as one of the greatest African strikers of his generation, expressed his disappointment over the false reports and the damage such misinformation can cause.
Nonda, who enjoyed a distinguished club career in Europe with stints at FC Zürich, Stade Rennais, AS Monaco, AS Roma, and Blackburn Rovers, retired in 2010. He now lives in Kinshasa and remains actively involved in football development initiatives across Africa.
The incident has reignited concerns over the ease with which false information can circulate online, especially on platforms like Twitter and Facebook, where viral posts can trigger widespread confusion before facts emerge.
As of Wednesday, Shabani Nonda is alive, well, and continues to enjoy life in Kinshasa—despite the internet’s premature obituary.
