Théo Bongonda, new offensive asset for the Leopards

The DR Congo team should soon be able to count on a new attacking reinforcement of choice: Théo Bongonda. This 26-year-old winger, from Belgium, had already joined the selection during a Leopards internship in Bahrain a few weeks ago. Internship during which he played a friendly match against the Bahraini team. Since then, the native of Charleroi has taken administrative steps, alongside the Congolese Federation (Fécofa), to defend the colors of the DRC in official competitions.

Théo Bongonda and his father recently went to the headquarters of Fecofa to advance his sports naturalization file. The player “ says he is ready to be part of the group that will face Morocco for the play-offs of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 », Indicates a press release from the body. However, his file must still be definitively validated by the International Federation (Fifa) for the person concerned to be eligible for the meetings of March 25 and 29, respectively scheduled for Kinshasa and Casablanca.

Shunned by the Belgian team

The DRC should anyway take advantage of the lack of interest of the Belgian national team for the one who has nevertheless evolved in Belgian selections U19 and U21. Well equipped in attack, the Red Devils have indeed never given a chance to the one who was trained at the JMG Academy in Lierse.

Théo Bongonda comes out of a 2020-2021 season during which he compiled 18 goals in 39 matches, in all competitions, with in particular a decisive achievement in the final of the Belgian Cup 2021 (2-1 against Standard de Liège).

This season again, he forms a formidable trio with the Japanese Junya Ito and the Nigerian Paul Onuachu. Passed by Celta Vigo in Spain (2015-2018) and by Trabzonspor in Turkey (2017-2018), the binational seems to have found the stability that it may have lacked before. Playing the 2022 World Cup with the DRC would also offer him additional exposure…