Romelu Lukaku offered immediate congratulations as 20-year-old KRC Genk defender Josué Kongolo reported for his first training session with the Belgian national team in Tubeke.
Surprise Call-Up for Nations League
National coach Mark van Bommel included Kongolo in his squad ahead of upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Turkey and Italy, HBVL reported. The selection caught the media room by surprise on Friday, as Sporza noted the young defender’s name appeared alongside established internationals despite only recently cementing a regular spot in the Jupiler Pro League. When reading his selection list, Mark van Bommel admitted that names such as Timothy Castagne, Kyriani Sabbe, Nathan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele, Arthur Theate, and Josué Kongolo rolled rather awkwardly off his lips.
Sporza commentator and Genk watcher Stef Wijnants conceded, Dit is toch een verrassing, ja,
adding that if the coach wanted a defender from the domestic league, he could also have chosen Matte Smets or Jorne Spileers. Following the unexpected withdrawal of Koni De Winter and the injury of Zeno Debast, the bondscoach was forced to look for fresh blood in his defense, explaining, Maar dan zijn we uitgekomen bij Josué.
Kongolo joined the Proximus Basecamp on Monday afternoon following a club fixture against Union Saint-Gilloise, according to VoetbalPrimeur.be. Schärer previously refereed the Red Devils’ 3-1 defeat to Ukraine in Murcia under former coach Rudi Garcia in March of last year.
Florent Kongolo Recalls His Son's Early Football Education
Kongolo’s father, Florent, shared the family’s reaction to the milestone. Florent and his wife Clarisse emigrated from Congo to Belgium early this century, and while their son held dual eligibility, Florent noted that playing for Belgium was entirely Josué’s choice.
Speaking to HBVL, Florent recalled his son’s early football education across Antwerp, Turnhout, Beerschot, and Lierse before KRC Genk signed him in 2015. Florent explained that education always took precedence over football, and when a teenage Kongolo struggled with his weight during his U13 days, he worked intensively to correct it.
Kongolo Progressed Through National Youth Categories to Join Senior Teammates
Growing up as a central defender, Kongolo modeled his game after former Red Devils captain Vincent Kompany, who shares a similar Congolese heritage. That defensive foundation helped him progress through every national youth category from the U16s to the U21s.
Naar het centrum in Tubeke gekomen, werd Kongolo begroet door onder meer Hans Vanaken en Simon Mignolet, die hem kwamen feliciteren. Nieuwsblad reported that the wider national team squad has been training ahead of Thursday’s match against Turkey, with Swiss referee Sandro Schärer appointed to officiate the encounter.
Facing Club Teammates on the International Stage
For defender Nathan Ngoy, the fixture against Turkey brings a familiar face across the pitch: his LOSC Lille teammate Berke Özer. Özer has posted strong numbers during Lille’s start to the Ligue 1 campaign, keeping five clean sheets and conceding only six goals across nine league appearances, helping his club sit second behind Paris Saint-Germain in France. In the UEFA Champions League, however, Lille sits 35th in the standings, with Özer conceding ten goals and keeping just one clean sheet across four matches. At international level, Özer faces competition from Uğurcan Çakır, who has largely been favored by Turkey.
Ngoy noted that Özer was exceptionally happy with his call-up, telling Le Petit Lillois, Hij was heel blij dat hij geselecteerd werd. We hebben er een beetje over gepraat, maar niet veel. Ik zie hem daar straks, maar nu is hij mijn tegenstander. Dat is ook de schoonheid van voetbal.
Ngoy added praise for his club colleague, stating, Ja, we kennen Berke. We kennen zijn kwaliteiten. We weten dat hij altijd alert is. Hij staat er wanneer hij nodig is. Hij is een geweldige doelman. We zijn blij dat we hem bij ons hebben.
Next Steps in the Squad
Whether Kongolo will earn his first senior cap during the matches against Turkey or Italy remains undecided, with his father noting that selection choices rest entirely with the technical staff. Voor nu blijft de jonge verdediger gefocust op zijn integratie bij de selectie, terwijl België probeert de tweede plaats te veroveren in groep A van de Nations League.
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