Paul Moukila


Paul Moukila, nicknamed Sayal, was a footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. A Congolese international, he was winner of the 1974 African Footballer of the Year award.

Career

Born in Souanké, Moukila began playing football for local side CARA Brazzaville. He played for the club from 1971 to 1975 and then from 1976 to 1978, after returning from a short spell abroad, at French club Strasbourg.
With the Congo national football team, Moukila won the African Cup of Nations in 1972. He was later voted African Footballer of the Year in 1974.
In 2006, he was selected by CAF as one of the best 200 African football players of the last 50 years. Moukila was voted the IFFHS Player of the Century for the Republic of the Congo in 2000.

Personal life

Moukila died in Meaux, France, from a bout of malaria on 24 May 1992.
His son Noël is also a former professional footballer and made two appearances for the Congo national team in 2007.