[futbol]

Well, the borders and names of many countries in sub-saharan Africa have gone through dramatic changes over the past few decades.

Not trying to be a jerk, let's say he's 45 years old, and lived all his life in Kinshasa (previously Leopoldville), then most of his life was lived in a country named Zaire. So then there are the why's of which countries were actually valid states, and whether this or that country counts more. So maybe language is the answer? If he speaks Kongo, is he Kongo or Congolese, or if he speaks Ligala or several languages, then what?

Maybe the reporter asked him which he prefered? Maybe the editor vetoed it. Maybe they all had similar discussions we're having in this thread.

[marcusgarvey]

There have been changes to be sure. As also happened/is happening in Eastern Europe. But of course these countries have a name, no matter how new, and journalists have no problem using them in those other cases.