Three goals in his last three matches, one achievement every 115 minutes since the start of the season with the reserve, Kembo Diliwidi perhaps has the recipe, or at least the dynamic to help the Lens attack get back on its feet . The young player from team B, 18 years old, “ good chance of being present in the group this weekend “, said Will Still. “ He's been training with us for a good two weeks, since Wes (Saïd's) injury, more or less. He scores with reserve, he has an eye for goal, a profile quite similar to the striker that was here in the past. (Openda) It's interesting, it's not yet a finished product, far from it, but it's one of the solutions. »
The Lensois coach therefore finally took him into the group which will host Nantes, the same day that Diliwidi, who arrived at RC Lens at 8 years old, signed his first professional contract for three years.
With four goals in 6 matches with the reserve, Diliwidi, born in Beuvry, is starting to reach milestones. Jean-Luc Vannuchi thus offered him his first three selections for the U19s in October with two starts and two goals (against England). Among the pros, we are carefully watching the presence of the striker who symbolizes, with Pereira da Costa, Labeau-Lascary and Tom Pouilly, the renewal of the Lens team. Adrien Thomasson shared his impressions of this player who knows how to go deep as well as break: “ What I really like about him is that he shows a lot of personality. Of the young people coming up with us, he’s one of the players who struck me the most in that regard. That is to say that he is not afraid, he is not afraid to go into contact, to rub shoulders with defenders, even to be on the limit sometimes. But it shows a certain personality and it's important for a young player, when you arrive with the professionals, to show that you don't just come to be the number. Maybe he will have an opportunity to express himself, but he already does it with us in training. There are still steps to take, but I see a player with great potential, in whom I think the club believes strongly. »
Those around him speak of a young man who “ sticks to the DNA of Racing, to the values of the club. He is generous, hardworking, attentive. He likes to run, take the depth, project himself. He has a sense of purpose, he's a real newbie who still has areas for improvement. » He will be able to do some during the international break which is coming, Jean-Luc Vannuchi called on him again for the three matches of the qualifying round for Euro 2025 against Liechtenstein on Wednesday, Wales on Saturday and Scotland Tuesday 19.
