Diangana displays for DR Congo a concern after development

Grady Diangana’s struggles for DR Congo continued last night in their 1-0 defeat to Sudan on Sunday (19 November) and Carlos Corberan will be demanding answers back at West Brom.

Since his permanent move from West Ham in 2020, he’s flattered to deceive on several occasions, registering just 17 goals and 14 assists from 135 appearances at The Hawthorns [Transfermakt].

However, in recent weeks, the 25-year-old has showcased his worth again, registering two goals and three assists in his last six starts for West Brom.

Before that spell, the fleet-footed forward was enduring a tough start to the campaign playing a total of six games (three starts), registered just one assist, two big chances created, averaging 0.8 key passes, 1.5 shots and just 0.2 accurate crosses per game [SofaScore] – stats which Corberan will not have been particularly impressed by.

It’s no wonder why the former West Ham man has seen his contributions and influence soar at The Hawthorns in recent weeks, and that’s partly down to the new role the Spanish coach has provided him – as one of his two frontmen in a 3-5-2 shape.

Such renewed confidence and form could certainly have done him some good at international level for DR Congo for their upcoming international fixtures against Mauritania on Wednesday night (15 November) and Sudan on Sunday.

However, the Baggies man was nowhere to be seen as his teammates eased to a 2-0 victory against Mauritania. In their previous international fixture against New Zealand in the October international window, Diangana started on the bench.

He was handed his first start for his country against Sudan in their World Cup 2026 qualifier on Sunday (20 November) but was dragged off at half-time in their 1-0 defeat in what was a tepid performance by the Baggies star.

It’s uncertain what led to this brutal call, whether it was down to his individual performance or whether it was down to a knock he picked up but right now Diangana’s early period as a DR Congo footballer hasn’t been as plain sailing as he would have liked.

Corberan will certainly be on the phone to him demanding answers on his international displays back in Birmingham.

In other West Brom news, the Baggies are reportedly closer than ever before under Guochuan Lai to a takeover