A roller-coaster weekend for Red Devils abroad
From Tirana to Bromley, Congolese footballers wearing or eyeing the famous red jersey delivered a mix of heroics and heartbreak over the weekend. Their performances, across four European leagues, refine the choices awaiting national coach Isaac Ngata for the next international window.
- A roller-coaster weekend for Red Devils abroad
- Bintsouka battles Egnatia hoodoo
- Massengo keeps Augsburg hovering
- Maboulou sidelines as Nuremberg edges Hannover
- Hondermarck’s double steals English headlines
- Ayina left out but Salford advances
- Massoumou electrifies Qabala flank
- January outlook for Congo coach
While William Hondermarck slammed two precision strikes in England, Domi Massoumou tormented Qarabag’s defence in Azerbaijan, and Han-Noah Massengo quietly stitched passes in the Bundesliga. Elsewhere, Archange Bintsouka and Noah Le Bret Maboulou endured frustrating shifts from the bench.
Bintsouka battles Egnatia hoodoo
Partizani Tirana faced its Albanian bogey side again and the spell held. After seven unbeaten games, the capital club fell 1-2 on Egnatia’s artificial turf. Bintsouka entered on 68 minutes, chasing equaliser tracks already frozen by a disciplined Rrogozhinë back line.
The 23-year-old forward pressed high, won two fouls, and slipped once behind the defence, but his low cross was cut out at source. Despite the defeat, Partizani stays inside the title pack before a festive-season pause that should allow tactical fine-tuning.
Massengo keeps Augsburg hovering
In Germany’s first division, Augsburg secured a gritty 0-0 against Werder Bremen, a result worth its weight in relegation gold. The Bavarian outfit, fifteenth with 14 points, remains the first team above the dreaded dotted line entering the winter break.
Suspended centre-back Chrislain Matsima watched from home, but Han-Noah Massengo patrolled midfield until the second minute of stoppage time. His 90-percent pass success and three recoveries underpinned Augsburg’s compact block that limited Bremen to half-chances and long-range efforts.
Club insiders expect the Congo-eligible playmaker to extend his loan past January, a scenario welcomed by supporters who already chant his name for calmness under pressure. Augsburg return to action on 9 January in a six-pointer against fellow strugglers Mainz.
Matsima, suspended for accumulated yellows, spent the weekend in rehabilitation drills aimed at sharpening acceleration. The France-born defender, who debuted for Congo in September, is targeting a clean disciplinary slate on his return, conscious that stability at the back remains Augsburg’s survival key.
Maboulou sidelines as Nuremberg edges Hannover
Down in 2.Bundesliga, Nuremberg grabbed a late 2-1 victory over promotion-chasing Hannover. It was a tactical thriller, yet Noah Le Bret Maboulou never swapped his substitute bib for a jersey, the coaching staff preferring experienced legs for defensive stability.
The teenager’s patience will be tested during the twelve-day interval. Still, training reports highlight his aerial strength, an asset likely to earn league minutes once suspensions bite. Nuremberg sit comfortably mid-table, eight points clear of the drop.
Hondermarck’s double steals English headlines
Across the Channel, Bromley’s chilly afternoon against Grimsby was warmed by William Hondermarck’s clinical finishing. The 23-year-old midfielder opened the scoring after 12 minutes, smashing a loose ball at the back post following Jude Elerewe’s towering header that rattled crossbar and keeper.
His second, nine minutes after the restart, came via an instinctive close-range volley on Kellan Ifill’s whipped delivery. Bromley sealed a 2-0 win, their unbeaten run stretching to five. Hondermarck now boasts three goals and an assist from nineteen outings.
National team analysts trimming video clips noted his box-to-box bursts and set-piece hunger. Although League Two intensity differs from African qualifiers, those attributes sit well with the staff planning March friendlies intended to blend home-based talents with European rhythm.
Ayina left out but Salford advances
Loick Ayina watched Salford’s 3-1 success at Barnet from the stands after the technical team opted for extra attacking options on the bench. The versatile defender remains on the fringes yet is valued for his versatility across the back four.
Massoumou electrifies Qabala flank
In Azerbaijan’s Premier League, Qabala fell 1-2 to serial champions Qarabag, yet Domi Massoumou’s explosive first half lit up the Gabala City Stadium. The winger outpaced his marker twice before threading a perfectly weighted square ball that Prince Owusu converted after six minutes.
On the half-hour, Massoumou again burst beyond the full-back, this time choosing an unselfish cut-back that Owusu steered goalward, only for the goalkeeper’s fingertips to push it past the post. Exhausted, the Brazzaville native made way in the 83rd minute.
Despite the loss, local pundits applauded the Congolese winger’s direct approach and suggested Qarabag might return in the January window with an offer. For now, Qabala sit seventh, needing consistency to dream of continental qualification.
January outlook for Congo coach
With the domestic league paused until February, the national technical team will tour European clubs in early January, checking injuries and paperwork. Han-Noah Massengo’s potential extension and Hondermarck’s form top the agenda, alongside discussions over travel insurance amid busy club calendars.
Supporters back home will watch results in Germany, England and Azerbaijan with renewed interest, hoping the momentum builds toward the March friendlies. For the weekend just passed, the Red Devils diaspora delivered enough flashes to keep that hope credible, loud and alive during a packed calendar year ahead.
