Born in Zambia, Mabika moved to the United States at age eight with his family, settling in Lexington, Kentucky.[1][2] He played youth soccer with Lexington FC.[3] Attending high school at Henry Clay High School, Mabika was named the 2016 Gatorade High School Player of the Year.[4]
College career
In 2016, Mabika began attending the University of Kentucky, where he would play for the men's soccer team, making the team as a walk-on.[5] He redshirted his first season in 2016, but was named to the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.[6]
On September 17, 2017, he scored his first collegiate goal, scoring a penalty kick against the New Mexico Lobos.[7] He led the team with two game-winning goals that season and finished tied for the team lead with three goals.[6][8][9] In 2017, he was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team, C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll.[6]
In 2018, he was named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week twice,[10][11] and was also named to the All-America Third Team,[12] the All-Southeast Region First Team,[13] the All C-USA First Team, C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll.[6]
In 2019, he was named team captain. On August 31, 2019, he scored a brace, netting two penalty kicks against the Albany Great Danes.[14] He was named the C-USA Player of the Year and C-USA Co-Defensive MVP,[15] was selected to the All-Southeast Region First Team, All-C-USA First Team, C-USA All-Tournament Team,[6] Scholar All-America first team, Scholar All-South Region first team, C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll.[16][17] After the season, he was selected to participate in the MLS College Showcase.[18]
In 2020, he was named to the All-Southeast Region First Team, C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll.[6] Over his four seasons, he scored 10 goals and added two assists in 62 appearances (53 starts), and helped the team record 28 shutouts.[19]
At the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, Mabika was selected in the first round (26th overall) by Inter Miami CF.[21][22][23] In May 2021, he signed a professional contract with the second team Fort Lauderdale CF (later renamed Inter Miami II).[24] He made his professional debut on May 2, in a 2–1 win over Richmond Kickers.[25] With the second team, he regularly served as team captain.[26] On October 8, 2021, he joined the first team on a short-term loan during a roster shortage.[27] He made his Major League Soccer debut on October 9 against the New York Red Bulls.[28][29] On October 22, he signed a second short-term loan with the team.[30][31] In January 2022, he signed a permanent contract with the first team.[32] In April 2022, he was named to the MLS Team of the Week.[33]
In April 2023, he was acquired by Toronto FC in exchange for $100,000 of General Allocation Money and an additional $100,000 in conditional GAM, with Miami also retaining a 25% future sell-on percentage.[34][35][36] He made his debut for the club in a substitute appearance on 6 May 2023 against the New England Revolution.[37] Toronto declined Mabika's contract option following the 2024 season.[38]
International career
Mabika was born in Zambia to Congolese parents.[39] By birth, he had both Zambian and Congolese citizenship,[40] however, upon obtaining his United States citizenship when he was 21, both his Zambian and Congolese citizenships were revoked automatically.[41] However, he would be able to re-obtain his Zambian citizenship without renouncing his American citizenship by making a declaration of loyalty to Zambia.[41]
In March 2022, he was called up to the Zambia national team for the first time, ahead of a series of friendlies.[42][43][44] Mabika debuted for Zambia in a friendly 3–1 win over the Congo on 25 March 2022,[45] however, he was unable to play in official matches due to his citizenship issue.[46] In January 2023, his naturalization process was finalized, allowing him to represent Zambia at international level in official competition,[47][48] with his passport finally arriving in March 2023.[49]
