The Democratic Republic of Congo have named a 25-man squad for this week’s Fifa World Cup 2026 Qualifiers African play-offs in Morocco as they look to secure their place at next year’s finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
DR Congo earned their spot in the play-offs after finishing as one of the four best runners-up from the nine African qualifying groups for the 2026 World Cup and now have an opportunity to reach the finals through two stages of play-offs.
Their campaign begins with the African play-offs in Morocco this week, where they face Cameroon in the semi-finals on Thursday. Should they emerge victorious, they will take on the winner of the other semi-final between Gabon and Nigeria on Sunday.
The Leopards are searching for only their second World Cup appearance – their sole participation came in 1974 when they competed as Zaire. They are one of four African nations competing in Morocco this week alongside Cameroon, Gabon and Nigeria, with the continent guaranteed one place at the 2026 finals.
However, the winner of Sunday’s CAF play-off must still overcome teams from other continents in a Fifa intercontinental play-off scheduled for March in Mexico to decide the final two qualifiers for the World Cup.
The intercontinental play-off will feature two teams from the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) and one team apiece from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).
Coach Sébastien Desabre has called up a strong squad featuring Premier League talents Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe in defence, while the midfield boasts the likes of Theo Bongonda and Michel-Ange Balikwisha. The attacking options include experienced striker Cedric Bakambu and in-form Samuel Essende.
The squad selection also provides insight into Desabre’s thinking ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco next month, where DR Congo will compete in their group alongside other top African nations.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Matthieu Epolo (Standard Liege, Belgium), Timothy Fayulu (Noah, Armenia), Lionel Mpasi (Le Havre, France)
Defenders: Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian, Scotland), Gedeon Kalulu (Aris Limassol, Cyprus), Steve Kapuadi (Legia Warsaw, Poland), Joris Kayembe (Racing Genk, Belgium), Arthur Masuaku (Sunderland, England), Chancel Mbemba (Olympique de Marseille, France), Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley, England), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United, England)
Midfielders: Theo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow, Russia), Michel-Ange Balikwisha (Glasgow Celtic, Scotland), Edo Kayembe (Watford, England), Nathanael Mbuku (Montpellier, France), Samuel Moutoussamy (Atromitos, Greece), Ngal’ayel Mukau (Lille, France), Charles Pickel (Espanyol, Spain), Noah Sadiki (Sunderland, England), Mario Stroeykens (Anderlecht, Belgium)
