Congolese Stars Light Up Europe: Round-up

European spotlight on Congolese talent

Across Brazzaville’s maquis and Pointe-Noire’s plages, phones lit up on Tuesday night. Supporters wanted one thing: updates on the Diables Rouges and the many Congolese plying their trade abroad. The second week of European competition delivered drama, goals and a memorable first.

The most eye-catching moment came in Munich, where 23-year-old Mons Bassouamina experienced the thrill of elite continental football. The former Nancy forward started on the bench for Pafos FC, yet his introduction just before the hour marked a personal milestone worth celebrating back home.

Bassouamina’s baptism against Bayern

Pafos trailed 1-4 when coach Henning Berg turned to Bassouamina. Facing Bayern’s back line of Upamecano and Kim offered a brutal learning curve, but the Congolese winger showed no fear, combining twice with Jairo to earn a late corner and a cheer from travelling fans.

“Mons brought energy and personality,” Berg praised in the post-match press conference. The Cypriot side eventually fell 1-5, yet for Bassouamina the cameo represented a first taste of Champions League group-stage intensity—an experience he vowed on Instagram to ‘repay tenfold’ in the return leg.

In Marseille, young right-back Daryl Bakola watched from the stands as the Olympique crushed Ajax 4-0. Technical staff cited a minor muscle alert for his absence, preferring caution with a long domestic calendar ahead.

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Oldenbourg’s unbeaten run ends in Germany

Over in northern Germany, Regionalliga leaders VfB Oldenbourg surrendered their nine-match invincibility, losing 3-4 to Drochtersen. Congolese midfielder Aurel Loubongo Mboungou remained an unused substitute, frustrated but philosophical after the final whistle.

“The table still smiles on us,” he told regional daily NordWest Zeitung, pointing to Oldenbourg’s solitary-point cushion over Meppen. The setback, he insisted, “will sharpen our hunger”. The club’s next outing at Lübeck now feels decisive for promotion hopes.

Makosso learns on the fly in England

Saturday afternoon in Blackpool offered coastal wind, drizzle and a lesson for Luton Town full-back Christ Makosso. The 20-year-old was caught out in the ninth minute, allowing winger CJ Hamilton to ghost behind him and slot the opener in a lively 2-2 draw.

Makosso’s difficulties resurfaced midway through the second half, this time after a high overlap left space for the Seasiders’ second strike. Yet the Brazzaville native refused to hide, overlapping repeatedly and nearly teeing Elijah Adebayo with a teasing cross that drew applause from the away end.

“He kept showing,” manager Nathan Jones remarked to ITV, praising the player’s courage. Luton sit seventh in League One on 16 points, just outside the play-off zone.

Monzialo’s hot streak fuels Den Bosch

Friday night at De Koel Stadium, VVV Venlo supporters feared one man: Kévin Monzialo. The former Juventus prospect rewarded that anxiety with a decisive 76th-minute volley at the far post, sealing Den Bosch’s 1-0 victory in the Dutch Eerste Divisie.

It was his sixth goal in nine league matches, a ratio turning heads among national-team scouts. Coach Erik van der Ven substituted him on 82 minutes to a standing ovation. Monzialo later dedicated the strike to “friends in Oyo and Ouenzé watching on YouTube” via the club’s media channel.

Den Bosch climb to eighth, only three points off automatic promotion pace. The next fixture, at home to Helmond Sport, offers the forward a chance to equal last season’s total before the league even reaches November.

Form guide: Diables Rouges and selection talk

With a November international window looming, Congo coach Paul Put will have noted Bassouamina’s Champions League bow and Monzialo’s consistent finishing. Sources inside the federation hint both could feature in the preliminary squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Makosso’s positional lapses may cost him a starting berth, though his engine and versatility keep him in contention. Loubongo’s minutes remain limited, yet his leadership in training retains favour among staff aware of his past U-20 captaincy.

Fans react from Brazzaville to Pointe-Noire

In the capital’s Pacifique bar, supporters debated who impressed most. “Monzialo is ice-cold,” argued Gaël, a student at Marien-Ngouabi University, flashing highlights on his phone. Nearby, trader Mireille preferred Bassouamina: “Champions League is another planet; scoring in the Netherlands is good, but this stage is bigger.”

Radio Mucodek’s Monday call-in mirrored the split opinion, yet optimism dominated. Listeners stressed the importance of role models succeeding abroad, inspiring neighbourhood academies such as Diata Stars and Kinguele FC to keep training despite equipment shortages.

What to watch this week

Attention now shifts to midweek fixtures. Pafos host Cypriot rivals Apollon, offering Bassouamina a probable first start since his continental cameo. In Germany, Oldenbourg seek redemption, while Luton prepare for a televised clash with Oxford United where Makosso will face pacy winger Tyler Goodrham.

Saturday night, Monzialo’s Den Bosch return to De Vliert aiming to extend a three-game winning streak. Congolese broadcasters Vox TV confirmed they will stream highlights in their Sunday magazine, expanding visibility for local fans without access to foreign channels.

Service info: how to follow

UEFA’s official platform streams Champions League replays 24 hours after full-time. For Germany’s Regionalliga, the SportTotal app provides free live feeds, though bandwidth can vary. English League One matches appear on the EFL’s iFollow service, payable in CFA-compatible mobile wallets.

Dutch second-division games air on ESPN Netherlands; Congolese viewers can access them via Canal+ Afrique bouquet Sport 6. Local cafés often organise group screenings—call ahead to confirm power stability during rainy-season storms.

Key numbers at a glance

Bassouamina: 31 minutes played, 9 touches, 2 shots blocked. Bakola: rested, 0 minutes. Loubongo: 0 minutes, 90 on bench. Makosso: 90 minutes, 5 tackles, 1 key pass. Monzialo: 82 minutes, 1 goal, season total 6.

Collectively, Congolese players in Europe delivered one win, two draws and two defeats this week. The overall goal differential stood at minus three, largely due to Pafos’s heavy loss in Munich.

The bigger picture

While individual stat lines fluctuate, the larger narrative remains encouraging. Congolese footballers continue carving spaces in varied leagues, from glamorous Champions League nights to gritty fourth-tier battles. Each appearance abroad expands the talent map and feeds the national conversation on development pathways.

Federation vice-president Barthélémy Ngatsono summed it up on Télé Congo: “Every minute our boys play overseas enriches the Diables Rouges. We must build bridges, not borders, between Makélékélé’s playgrounds and Europe’s stadiums.”