Pacifique Niyongabire Explained

Pacifique Niyongabire (born 15 March 2000) is a Burundian professional footballer who plays as a winger for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL Championship and the Burundi national football team.

Early life

Niyongabire was born in Burundi, and spent his early childhood in Tanzania, before migrating to Australia with his family at age seven.^[1] In Australia, he played youth football with the Playford City Patriots and Gawler, before joining Adelaide United at age 17.^[1]

Club career

Niyongabire was initially given a scholarship to the Adelaide United Football Schools, after being discovered by the club. He began playing for the Adelaide United NPL team in the second-tier NPL South Australia. On 14 January 2018, he was called up to the Adelaide United first team in the A-League Men, making his professional debut against Sydney. In March 2018, he signed a two-and-a-half year scholarship contract with the first team.^{[2] [3]} On 30 July 2020, he scored his first A-League goal against Perth Glory.^[4] In June 2021, he departed the club, upon the expiry of his contract.^[5]

In August 2021, he signed with Perth Glory in the A-League Men, following a successful pre-season trial.^{[6] [7]} In December 2022, he terminated his contract by mutual consent with the club to pursue another playing opportunity.^[8]

In December 2022, he signed with Canadian Premier League club Valour FC for the 2023 season.^[9] Niyongabire made his debut for Valour FC on 16 April 2023 against York United, recording an assist in the match. He scored his first goal for the club on 20 May 2023 against Pacific FC.^[10]

In January 2024, he joined USL Championship club Tampa Bay Rowdies for an undisclosed fee.^{[11] [12]}

International career

On 16 November 2022, he made his debut for the Burundi national football team in a friendly against Ivory Coast.^[13]

On 19 November, he scored in a 1–0 victory in an unofficial friendly against Guinea U23.^[14]

On 25 March 2023, he scored his first goal for the national team in a friendly match against Indonesia in a 3–1 loss (his previous goal was considered unofficial, as the match was not against a senior national team).^{[15] [16]}

In June 2023, he was called up for his first official tournament match ahead of a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match.^[17]

Personal life

He is the younger brother of Elvis Kamsoba, who is also a professional footballer who also plays on the Burundi national football team.^[18]

Career statistics

Club

^[19]

Club	Season	League			Playoffs		Domestic Cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Adelaide United NPL	2017	NPL South Australia	19	5	—		—		—		19	5
	2018		14	10	1	0	—		—		15	10
	2019		13	7	—		—		—		13	7
	2020		6	2	—		—		—		6	2
	2021		4	1	—		—		—		4	1
	Total		56	25	1	0	0	0	0	0	57	25
Adelaide United	2017–18	A-League	1	0	0	0	0	0	—		1	0
	2018–19		0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2019–20		3	1	—		2	0	—		5	1
	2020–21		16	0	2	0	—		—		18	0
	Total		20	1	2	0	2	0	0	0	24	1
Perth Glory	2021–22	A-League	17	0	—		1	0	—		18	0
	2022–23		0	0	—		0	0	—		0	0
	Total		17	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	18	0
Valour FC	2023	Canadian Premier League	25	1	—		1	0	—		26	1
Career total			118	27	3	0	4	0	0	0	125	27

International

Burundi
Year	Apps	Goals
2022	1	0
2023	4	1
Total	5	1

International goals

External links

• • Pacifique Niyongabire at Valour FC

Notes and References

1. Web site: Former Eagles make splash on the big stage. 5 August 2020. Liam. Phillips. The Bunyip.
2. Web site: Reds sign Pacifique Niyongabire to scholarship contract. 6 March 2018. Adelaide United FC.
3. Web site: Adelaide United signs teenager Pacifique Niyongabire on A-League scholarship contract. Rob. Greenwood. The West Australian. 8 March 2018.
4. Web site: Niyongabire delighted to score maiden Adelaide goal. Gianluca. Filosi. July 31, 2020. Adelaide United FC.
5. Web site: Adelaide United scholarship update. June 28, 2021. Adelaide United FC.
6. Web site: Glory swoop for young dynamic duo. Perth Glory FC. September 1, 2021.
7. Web site: Perth Glory add Pacifique Niyongabire and Antonee Burke-Gilroy for the next two seasons. 31 August 2021. Nick. Taylor. The West Australian.
8. Web site: Niyongabire departs by mutual consent. 15 December 2022. Perth Glory FC. Gareth. Morgan.
9. Web site: Valour FC sign Burundian forward Pacifique Niyongabire. December 19, 2022. Valour FC.
10. Web site: Pacifique Niyongabire: The former A-League Men winger thriving in Canada. 5 July 2023. Christian. Marchetti. Front Page Football.
11. Web site: Rowdies Acquire Winger Pacifique Niyongabire. January 12, 2024. Tampa Bay Rowdies.
12. Web site: Tampa Bay Signs Valour Forward Niyongabire. January 12, 2024. John. Jacques. Northern Tribune.
13. Web site: Valour Adds A-League Forward Pacifique Niyongabire. 19 December 2022. Northern Tribune. John. Jacques.
14. Web site: Niyongabire Nets Burundi Call Up. March 19, 2023. Northern Tribune. John. Jacques.
15. Web site: Skor Sementara Indonesia Vs Burundi FIFA Matchday 2023, Gawang Timnas Dibobol Pacifique Niyongabire. id. 25 March 2023. Provisional score for Indonesia vs Burundi FIFA Matchday 2023, Pacifique Niyongabire's goal was broken by the national team. Tribun Network.
16. Web site: Pacifique Niyongabire: "I feel like I'm quite fast and I like to create things – whether it's coming inside or trying to dribble on the wing.". April 6, 2023. Valour FC. Ed. Tait.
17. Web site: On Song In CPL, Niyongabire Gets Burundi Nod. June 12, 2023. Northern Tribune. John. Jacques.
18. Web site: Adelaide United's Pacifique Niyongabire and Melbourne Victory's Elvis Kamsoba's mother is stranded in Burundi. Val. Migliaccio. The West Australian. 17 April 2020.
19. Web site: Pacifique Niyongabire NPL Stats. MyGameDay.