Nabilai Absolom Kibunguchy (born January 5, 1998) is a professional footballer who currently plays for MLS Next Pro side Orlando City B. Born in the United States, he plays for the Kenya national team.
Career
Youth
Kibunguchy was part of the Sacramento Republic from 2015 to 2016, where he made 30 appearances and scored a single goal.[2]
College
Kibunguchy played college soccer at the University of California, Davis from 2016 to 2019. During his time with the Aggies, Kibunguchy made 52 appearances, scoring 3 goals and tallying 2 assists. Kibunguchy redshirted his freshman season following a season-ending injury and the Big West Conference was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During his college career, Kibunguchy was named All-Big West Conference First Team, Big West All-Freshman Team and Big West Conference All-Academic Team in 2017, and United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region Second Team and All-Big West Conference First Team in 2019.[3]
Club
In 2019, Kibunguchy appeared in the USL League Two with San Francisco Glens SC, where he earned a spot on the Western Conference All-Star Team.[4]
Professional
On January 21, 2021, Kibunguchy was selected 18th overall in 2021 MLS SuperDraft by Minnesota United.[5] He officially signed with the team on April 3, 2021.[6]
On May 27, 2021, Kibunguchy moved on loan to USL Championship side Sacramento Republic for the remainder of the 2021 season.[7]
Following the 2022 season, his contract option was declined by Minnesota.[8] Kibunguchy subsequently signed with Orlando City B in MLS Next Pro for the 2023 season.[9]
International career
Born in the United States, both of Kibunguchy's parents are from Kenya.[10] He is a former youth international for the United States, having played for the United States U19s in 2016.[11] He was called up to the Kenya national team for a set of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches in November 2023.[12]
References
- ^ "Nabilai Kibunguchy". Minnesota United FC. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ "Sacramento Republic FC". sacr.ussoccerda.com.
- ^ "Nabi Kibunguchy - Men's Soccer". UC Davis Athletics.
- ^ "San Francisco Glens SC | uslleaguetwo.com". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
- ^ "McMaster, Kibunguchy and O'Hearn Selected in 2021 SuperDraft | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC.
- ^ "Minnesota United sign SuperDraft picks Justin McMaster, Nabilai Kibunguchy | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer.
- ^ "Kibunguchy Loaned to Sacramento Republic FC | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC.
- ^ "Minnesota United 2022 End of Season Roster Update | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC.
- ^ "Orlando City B announces roster for 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season | Orlando City". orlandocitysc.
- ^ "NABI KIBUNGUCHY: 10 things you don't know about me | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC.
- ^ "Homegrown Academy Talent Nabi Kibunguchy Returns to Republic FC on Loan from Minnesota United".
- ^ Sports, Pulse (November 13, 2023). "Nabilai Kibunguchy reveals stunning reason why he chose Kenya over USA". Pulse Sports Kenya.
External links
- Nabilai Kibunguchy at Major League Soccer
- Nabilai Kibunguchy at Soccerway