Chanel Mokango selected the top Congolese playing abroad in last week's games

We bring you last week's top performances from Congolese who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level.

Chanel Mokango

   #1. This week's number one is an experienced former international power forward Chanel Mokango (188-88, college: MSU, currently plays in Hungary). She led Miskolc to a 3-point victory against the closely-ranked PEAC-Pecs (12-10) 84-81 in the Hungarian A Division in Friday night's game. Mokango scored 18 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 32 minutes on the court. Aluinvent DVTK Miskolc (13-9) is placed fourth in the A Division. Mokango has relatively good stats this year: 10.8ppg, 6.9rpg, 2FGP: 53.4%, 3FGP: 43.8% and FT: 84.8% in 22 games she played so far. She played for the DR Congolese senior national team two years ago.

La Mama Kapinga Maweja

   #2. Second place goes to former international power forward La Mama Kapinga Maweja (194-97, currently plays in Croatia). Kapinga Maweja could not help Pozega (6-2) in their last game on Saturday. Despite her very good performance the second-placed Pozega (6-2) was crushed 103-77 on the road by the leading KAZL Split in the Places 7-12 group. Kapinga Maweja recorded a double-double by scoring 15 points and getting the same number of rebounds. There are only two games left until the end of the Second Stage. So now every game will be critical. Kapinga Maweja has individually a very good season with high stats. She averages: 20.5ppg, 14.1rpg, 1.3apg, 1.3bpg, 1.5spg, 2FGP: 54.4% and FT: 60.2%. Kapinga Maweja played for the DR Congolese national team in 2017.

Pauline Akonga Nsimbo

   #3. The DR Congolese player who performed third best last week abroad was former international center Pauline Akonga Nsimbo (188-82, agency: LBM Management, currently plays in France). Akonga Nsimbo was the major contributor in Calais' victory against the seventh-ranked SIG (8-11) 71-70 in the French LF2 (second division) in Saturday night's game. She scored 14 points, had 9 rebounds and dished 4 assists. Cote d'Opale Basket Calaisis placed second in the LF2. This season Akonga Nsimbo has very high stats. She averages: 15.3ppg, 7.4rpg, 1.3apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 49.5%, 3FGP: 29.0% and FT: 75.3%. Akonga Nsimbo played for the DR Congolese national team two years ago.

Ginette Mfutila

   #4. Power forward Ginette Mfutila (189-88, also represented by LBM Management, currently plays in France) led Reims to a victory over the tenth-ranked La Tronche (6-12) crushing them 87-55 in the French LF2 (second division) last Saturday. She was MVP of the game. Mfutila scored 16 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 24 minutes. Reims Basket Feminin (12-6) is placed fourth in the LF2. Her team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is very crucial. This year Mfutila has relatively solid stats: 12.9ppg and 7.7rpg in 18 games. She used to play for the DR Congolese national team back in 2019.


The list of other players, who all have DR Congolese passport but never been selected to any of DR Congolese national teams:

   #1. Harriet Nahwezhi-Bende (186-C-94, currently plays in Germany) contributed to an easy victory against the ninth-ranked XCYDE Angels Noerdlingen (7-15) crushing them 81-56 in the German DBBL on Wednesday night. She scored 10 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 25 minutes. Rutronik Stars Keltern (21-1) is placed first in the DBBL. It was her team's fifth consecutive victory in a row. They will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical. This year Nahwezhi-Bende's overall stats are: 4.3ppg, 2.2rpg and 1.3apg in six games she played so far. She has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and Belgian.

   #2. Bethy Mununga (183-F-97, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA could not help the one of league's weakest teams S.Florida (8-0) to beat the North Carolina State University. Mununga did not beat the league record on Tuesday evening. She recorded only 2 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. The S.Florida was defeated 79-67 at home by the North Carolina State University. The National Tournament Round 2 already ended in the NCAA. Mununga's overall stats this season are: 9.6ppg, 12.9rpg, 1.3apg, 1.1bpg and 1.2spg. She is another player who holds two passports: Belgian and DR Congolese.


Other top DR Congolese players, who play abroad:

Lydie Katshitshi (185-C-98) plays for Moncalieri in Italian Serie A2