World Cup Playoff: DR Congo unveils squad despite NFF appeal

Despite the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) lodging an appeal to FIFA over the eligibility of some players, the DR Congo national football team has gone ahead to announce a 26-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup intercontinental play-offs.

Head coach Sébastien Desabre confirmed the squad on Wednesday as the Leopards intensify preparations for the decisive playoff match scheduled to be played in Mexico later this month.

The game is seen as a crucial opportunity for the Central African nation to secure a place at the global tournament.

Two players at the centre of Nigeria’s complaint Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Mario Stroeykens, were not included in the squad list released by the Congolese technical crew.

However, Matheu Epolo, the third player mentioned in Nigeria’s petition to FIFA over alleged eligibility issues, has been named in the final squad for the playoff clash.

Nigeria lodged the complaint after losing the African play-off tie to DR Congo 4–3 on penalties, alleging that the Congolese football federation misled FIFA in securing nationality switches for several overseas-born players.

The petition, made public on December 15, 2025, urged FIFA to investigate the matter and consider disqualifying DR Congo from the qualification process.

In the complaint, which was made public by journalist Osasu Obayiuwana, Nigeria argued that several players received clearance to represent DR Congo only days before the decisive play-off match, despite having been invited to the squad earlier.

The petition questioned how the Congolese football federation could call up the players before FIFA had granted final approval for their nationality switch.

It partly reads: ““It should be added for context that at least three of these players with unrenounced Belgian nationality (Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Mario Stroeykens, and Matheu Epolo) received their final clearance to play for DRC between November 11 and 12, 2025, just before the play-off match against Nigeria on November 16, 2025.

“Notably, Balikwisha played his debut match for DRC in this game against Nigeria.”

The document further suggested that the timeline surrounding the call-ups raised serious concerns about procedural compliance.

“It is most curious, however, that these players had already been called up by DRC on November 1, 2025, to play in the play-offs, approximately eleven days before receiving FIFA clearance and approvals.”

“This raises the question of what gave FECOFA the confidence to take the unusual step of calling up players of a foreign nationality for such crucial play-offs well before securing the necessary FIFA approval for those players.”

“We request a formal investigation into these serious matters.”

However, FIFA is yet to give any official verdict. Instead, the football body, last week, listed Congo as part of the teams to feature in the playoffs. With this, the squad announcement from Congo signals the team’s readiness to proceed with plans for the upcoming fixture.

The full list includes

Goalkeepers

Théo Fayulu (FC Noah, Armenia) – Lionel Mpasi (Le Havre, France) – Matthieu Epolo (Standard Liège, Belgium)

Defenders

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United, England) – Jeremy Ngakia (Watford, England) – Joris Kayembe (Genk, Belgium) – Arthur Masuaku (Lens, France) – Chancel Mbemba (Lille, France) – Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley, England) – Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian, Scotland) – Steven Kapuadi (Legia Warsaw, Poland) – Batubinsika (Larissa, Greece)

Midfielders

Noah Sadiki (Sunderland, England) – Edo Kayembe (Watford, England) – Samuel Moutoussamy (Atromitos, Greece) – Charles Pickel (Espanyol, Spain) – Ngal’ayel Mukau (Lille, France) – Meshack Elia (Alanyaspor, Turkey) – Théo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow) – Nathanaël Mbuku (Montpellier, France) – Bryan Ssebinya (Castellón, Spain) – Grady Diangana (Elche, Spain)

Forwards

Simon Banza (Al Jazira, UAE) – Fiston Mayele (Pyramids FC) – Cédric Bakambu (Real Betis, Spain) – Yoane Wissa (Newcastle United, England).

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