Congolese talents light up Europe
Another continental weekend offered a living atlas of Congolese skill. From the Caspian Mountains to the Dutch lowlands, members of the Red Devils pool chased minutes, points and form. Some celebrated, others counted the cost of a lost duel, but each outing refined Brazzaville’s future options.
Azerbaijan frustration for Qabala duo
In the Premyer Liqasi, Qabala fell 0-2 at home to Sumqayit despite Domi Massoumou’s relentless pressing. On 40 minutes the left-back robbed Abdoul Moumini inside the box, only to be denied by an alert goalkeeper. Coach Elmar Bakhshiyev withdrew the Congolese defender at 85 minutes seeking fresh legs.
Midfield runner Simon Nsana was introduced on 76 minutes. Two minutes later his through-ball freed Ludovic Ramalingom for Sumqayit’s clincher. The cameo underlined Nsana’s growing vision since his July arrival, even if it came at the expense of his compatriot’s club.
Kembo watches Gijon stumble in Spain
Over in LaLiga SmartBank, Sporting Gijón slipped 1-2 at CD Mirandés. Centre-back Yann Kembo, still easing back after a thigh strain, remained on the bench. Technical staff insisted after the match that “Yann is close; we must manage his return responsibly” (club media).
Serie A and C: mixed feelings
Italy produced contrasting stories. In Serie A, Juventus and Torino neutralised each other 0-0 in the Derby della Mole. Fit again since mid-week, Niels Nkounkou did not leave Ivan Jurić’s bench but the coach praised his “explosive edge” that should soon profit the Granata.
In Serie B, Cremonese lost 0-1 at Pisa. Warren Bondo anchored midfield as a lone sentinel, showing tidy distribution yet little vertical thrust as the Grigiorossi chased an equaliser. Observers noted his improved positional sense compared with last month’s defeat at Modena.
Down in Serie C group C, Atalanta U23 fell 0-1 to Giugliano. Digne Pounga, a U-20 international eager for minutes, watched from the dug-out again. He has logged just 63 minutes across the last six rounds, a figure that may trigger a January loan according to Bergamo pundits.
Dutch joy as Monzialo hits ninth goal
Kevin Monzialo offered the weekend’s highlight in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie. His Den Bosch side triumphed 3-1 away to FC Eindhoven to climb fifth. After skimming the side-netting on eight minutes, the Brazzaville-born forward ghosted to the back post at 76 minutes to volley home the third goal—his ninth this campaign.
The strike keeps Monzialo second in the league scoring chart, matching six assists. Coach Tomasz Rząsa called him “our reference point in transition”. National team scouts tracking the 22-year-old emphasise his improved decision-making and believe a senior call-up could arrive for March’s AFCON qualifiers.
Czech paperwork delays Makouana
Jablonec’s 1-0 success at Banik Ostrava would normally have featured Beni Makouana’s pace, yet immigration formalities still delay his competitive license. Club officials expect clearance “within days”. Makouana keeps sharp through intra-squad friendlies and remains upbeat, telling local media, “I’ll be ready the minute my card arrives.”
Russian resolve from Yoboma
Arsenal Tula edged Chayka 1-0 in Russia’s second tier, extending a five-match unbeaten run. Centre-half Erving Botaka Yoboma marshalled the back line with calm authority, winning four aerial duels and launching several clean long passes, according to SecondLiga analytics. His leadership is drawing quiet admiration from veteran captain Kirill Kombarov.
Why diaspora minutes matter for Brazzaville
Coach Paul Put has insisted that “form is the only passport” to the national squad. Monzialo’s scoring spree, Massoumou’s pressing, and Yoboma’s defensive maturity strengthen competition before the November gathering in Kintélé.
Conversely, the limited game-time for Nkounkou, Kembo and Pounga warns how fragile momentum can be in elite squads. Medical staff in Brazzaville liaise weekly with their European counterparts to monitor workloads and prevent overloads that plagued previous windows.
With rising travel costs, the federation plans to cluster friendlies in Europe next year, easing logistics for the diaspora contingent and saving an estimated 20 % on flights, according to an internal note seen by our newsroom.
Supporters at home follow every move thanks to increasingly affordable streaming packages. Many shared Monzialo’s goal within minutes on TikTok, proof of how digital platforms knit the diaspora into Congo’s football narrative in real time.
