Editing Lomana LuaLua (section)

===2002 and 2004 Africa Cup of Nations===
LuaLua was first named by the [[Congo DR national football team|DR Congo national team]] in the preliminary squad for the [[2002 African Cup of Nations|African Nations Cup]] finals in [[Mali]] in January 2002.<ref name=DRC /><ref>{{cite news | title = DR Congo call up LuaLua | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/1742097.stm| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 4 January 2002 | access-date =8 September 2007}}</ref> He played in the 0–0 draw with [[Togo national football team|Togo]],<ref>{{cite news | title = Group C stays wide open | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/cup_of_nations/1784241.stm| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 26 January 2002 | access-date =8 September 2007}}</ref> the 1–0 loss to [[Cameroon national football team|Cameroon]],<ref>{{cite news | title = Clockwatch: Cameroon 1–0 DR Congo | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/cup_of_nations/1771674.stm| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 20 January 2002 | access-date =8 September 2007}}</ref> the 3–1 win over [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]] and the quarter-final match against [[Senegal national football team|Senegal]], which DR Congo lost 2–0 amid some controversy.<ref>{{cite news | title = DR Congo smash into quarter-finals | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/cup_of_nations/1789939.stm| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 29 January 2002 | access-date =8 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Dakar Lions beat brave Simbas | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/cup_of_nations/1801236.stm| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 4 February 2002 | access-date =8 September 2007}}</ref> LuaLua blamed the referee [[Domenico Messina]] for the defeat: "We had a lot of fouls which the referee didn't give and there was a penalty right in front of him but he just let the match go on. Sometimes they [the Senegalese] fell over without being touched, screamed, and the referee just gave the foul to them."<ref>{{cite news | title = LuaLua blames referee for defeat| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/cup_of_nations/1802818.stm| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 5 February 2002 | access-date =8 September 2007}}</ref>

{{Quote box | width=30% | align=right | quote= "Lomana knows he's been stupid. He knew he was going to be under pressure and he knew he was going to get provoked... but I don't like the way their players behaved. They were taking dives all over the place. That's not fair play. It's disgraceful."|source= <small>—DR Congo manager Mick Wadsworth, who was also assistant manager at Newcastle during Robson's reign, agreed with LuaLua about the conduct of the Tunisia players in their 2004 African Nations Cup match.<ref name="Quit" /></small>}}

DR Congo's qualifying campaign for the [[2004 African Cup of Nations|2004 African Nations Cup]] in [[Tunisia]] began six months after the 2002 tournament ended, with a match against [[Libya national football team|Libya]] on 8 September. Libya won the match 3–2.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/cup_of_nations/2246455.stm|title=Libya tame Congo|publisher=BBC Sport|date=9 September 2002|access-date=7 January 2011}}</ref> LuaLua initially indicated that he might not play in the match, but did so reluctantly after threats were made to his family, which caused him to reconsider his international career. Robson commented, "He didn't want to go and play in that match. But he said he had to go because his grandmother had been threatened."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_football/3473239.stm|title=Wadsworth hits out|date=9 February 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=7 January 2011}}</ref> He played in the 2–0 win over [[Botswana national football team|Botswana]] in October 2002, when he scored inside five minutes but was later sent off for dissent.<ref name="botswana">{{cite news | title = DR Congo sweep Botswana aside| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/cup_of_nations/2325097.stm| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 13 October 2002 | access-date =8 September 2007 | first=Mark | last=Dummett}}</ref> He was suspended for two matches and his next appearance was in the 0–0 draw with Botswana in July 2003, which secured qualification for the finals of the competition.<ref>{{cite news | title = DR Congo sail through | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3047950.stm| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 5 July 2003 | access-date =8 September 2007}}</ref> LuaLua initially expressed doubts that he would take part in the finals due to club commitments.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3240793.stm|title=LuaLua may miss Tunisia|date=4 November 2003|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=14 June 2008}}</ref> He was, however, included in the squad and named as captain in the absence of regular captain [[Shabani Nonda]], who missed the tournament due to a knee injury.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3396985.stm|title=DR Congo select squad|date=14 January 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=14 June 2008}}</ref><ref name="captaincy">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3420793.stm|title=LuaLua reveals Simba belief|last=Mungazi |first=Farayi |date=22 April 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=14 June 2008}}</ref> LuaLua said on being named as captain, "When Shabani plays, it takes the pressure off me but now everyone's now looking to me for leadership and I feel honoured."<ref name="captaincy" /> He appeared in the first match of the tournament, a 2–1 defeat to [[Guinea national football team|Guinea]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3426239.stm|title=DR Congo 1–2 Guinea|last=Thomas |first=Durosimi |date=25 January 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=14 June 2008}}</ref> but in the next match against the hosts [[Tunisia national football team|Tunisia]], he was sent off, reacting angrily and taking several minutes to leave the pitch.<ref name="Quit">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3441013.stm|title=LuaLua may quit DR Congo|date=29 January 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=14 June 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3435163.stm|title=Tunisia through to last eight|first=Durosimi|last=Thomas|date=28 January 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=7 January 2011}}</ref> DR Congo went on to lose the match and were eliminated from the tournament.<ref name="Quit" /> Following his sending off, LuaLua considered giving up international football and criticised the behaviour of the Tunisia players during the match and the organisation of the tournament.<ref name="Quit" /> He later criticised the national football federation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the [[Congolese Association Football Federation]], blaming them for the poor state of the national side, but said that he would continue to be available for international selection: "I can never turn my back on my country. I play for Congo because I am proud to do it."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3776581.stm| title=LuaLua hits out at DRC's Federation|last=Obayiuwana |first=Osasu |date=4 June 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=14 June 2008}}</ref> He apologised to his country for his sending off against Tunisia.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3818395.stm| title=LuaLua apologises to DR Congo|last=Citera |first=Patrice |date=18 June 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=14 June 2008}}</ref>