AFCON 2025
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have released their squad for the interconfederational playoffs for the 2026 World Cup scheduled for Mexico later this month.
The Congolese FA announced the list on Wednesday, despite the amidst the petition submitted by the Nigeria Football Federation against the Leopards over the use of ineligible players when the they met in November.
In the petition submitted to FIFA, the NFF accused the Congolese FA of deceit in clearing players for its national team, despite their status contravening the country’s citizenship laws.
Meanwhile, according to parts of the document shared by Osasu Obayiuwana, a veteran Nigerian journalist, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku, Noah Sadiki, and Cedric Bakambu were among the 17 foreign-born players that featured for DRC Congo, which the NFF noted were “affected by our complaint”.
Sébastien Desabre, DR Congo’s head coach, maintained almost the exact squad that defeated Nigeria on penalties in the African playoff for the World Cup in November 2025
However, all players listed in the NFF’s petition, except three, made the Congolese list for the forthcoming playoffs.
The only three players missing are Gideon Kalulu, Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Mario Stroeykens, whom Nigeria claimed were cleared just the day before the November match in Morocco.
The Nigerian petition against DR Congo has been tabled before the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, but a ruling is yet to be made official with the inter-confederation playoffs weeks away.
DR Congo will take on the winners of the Jamaica-New Caledonia match for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
DR Congo will be placed in Group K alongside Portugal, Uzbekistan, and Colombia if they win the inter-confederation playoffs.
