Red Devils across Europe
From the Mediterranean to the Caucasus, Congolese footballers have made Wednesday night cup fixtures their playground. The Red Devils of Brazzaville and the wider diaspora signed decisive results in five European countries, offering a promising snapshot just weeks before the next national-team gathering.
Cyprus Super Cup thriller
In Larnaka, the Cypriot Super Cup crowned the winner of the domestic double. Pafos FC, league champions 2025, pushed the Cup holders AEK Larnaka to a dramatic 1-1 draw before bowing 5-4 on penalties, an ending as cruel as it was breath-stealing for neutral fans.
Mons Bassouamina, still hunting his first official minutes with Pafos, remained on the bench, observing every kick with trademark intensity. Midfielder Jérémie Gnali, starter for the Sky-Blues, covered territory tirelessly until coach Michel’s tactical tweak saw him replaced in the 77th minute to preserve balance.
Dila Gori stays on double track
Across the Black Sea, Dila Gori punched its ticket to the Georgian Cup final, dismissing Samtredia 2-0 in Tbilisi’s evening chill. Coach Andria Pirveli shuffled his pack at half-time, sending in 18-year-old striker Déo Gracias Bassinga, whose pressing immediately unsettled the Samtredia backline.
Bassinga’s key contribution was a diagonal run that dragged two markers and freed Lobjanidze for the clincher. Romaric Etou, back from a knock, stayed on the bench. Gori fans already dream of an unprecedented league-cup brace.
Club officials confirmed the final will be staged in Kutaisi next month. Should Dila triumph, Bassinga would become the youngest Congolese to lift silverware in Georgia, illustrating how the Brazzaville academy network keeps exporting talent despite the challenges of distance and climate adaptation.
Dutch cup scare navigated
In the Netherlands, NEC Nijmegen avoided embarrassment at Rijnsburgse Boys, edging a lively 3-2. Congolese-French right-back Brayann Pereira was rested after three consecutive Eredivisie starts. Local paper De Gelderlander insists his overlapping runs will be essential on Sunday against PSV’s dangerous wings.
Pereira followed the fixture from the stands, high-fiving traveling supporters whose banners carried the Congolese flag. The gesture underlined how diaspora players feed a growing fan base back home through live-streamed matches and social media interactions scheduled around Brazzaville’s time zone.
Arsenal Tula keeps Russian dream alive
Further north, Arsenal Tula secured passage to the Russian Cup regional 16th finals by beating Fakel Voronezh 3-2. Centre-back Erving Botaka Yoboma marshalled the defence with composure, clearing two late corners that threatened extra-time on a chilly evening where breath turned into visible mist.
‘He brings calm and leadership beyond his years,’ praised coach Sergei Podpaly after the whistle. The reward is a glamorous tie against Premier League outfit Rubin Kazan, scheduled during the next international window. Congolese fans may thus watch Botaka face top-tier attackers on national TV.
Club medics report the 22-year-old has avoided the hamstring concerns that hampered his 2024 campaign. National selector Isaac Ngata, monitoring from Brazzaville, will likely include him in November’s qualifiers, adding height and European sharpness to a back line rebuilt around veterans Loussoukoukou and Moubhio.
Mixed fortunes in Turkish Cup
In western Anatolia, Alanyaspor squeezed past fourth-tier Bursa Yildirim 2-1. Gaïus Makouta entered on 80 minutes, dictating tempo with crisp passes as his side protected the advantage. Despite limited playing time, the former Braga man remains popular for his community work in Pointe-Noire each off-season.
A few kilometres away, Eyüpspor’s satellite club Erokspor dispatched Agri 1970 SK 3-0. Centre-half Francis Nzaba was rested after logging heavy minutes in First League action. Technical staff want him fresh for Sunday’s promotion clash, where aerial duels could decide whether Erokspor stays within striking distance.
Local commentators laud the Congolese defender’s maturity at only 20. ‘He reads the game like a veteran,’ noted TRT Spor’s analyst Murat Kaya during post-match coverage broadcast in Brazzaville. Nzaba, smiling on the bench, flashed thumbs-up at cameras and promised ‘more clean sheets soon’.
Why these cup nights matter at home
For supporters in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, mid-week heroics abroad offer relief from daily transport queues and rising food bills. Street cafés tuned their flat-screens to Cyprus or Turkey, discussing tactics between sips of robusta. The diaspora’s success fuels debate on youth training investments.
‘Seeing our brothers excel shows possibilities,’ smiled student Corinne Mafoua outside a Makélékélé kiosk, eyes glued to replay highlights. The sports ministry recently announced grants for local academies, citing diaspora models. If approved, partnerships with clubs like Pafos or Dila Gori could formalise career pathways.
As the final whistles echoed, one statistic stood tall: no Congolese starter lost on the night. Momentum, confidence and valuable exposure have been banked ahead of November’s World Cup qualifiers. For now, the Red Devils abroad can allow themselves a quiet, satisfied grin.
