The squad released this Saturday is dominated by players on the books of clubs out of the continent.
Théo Bongonda Mbul’Ofeko Batomboat who previously represented Belgium’s youth national teams has been included barely days after FIFA cleared him to represent DR Congo. The Genk striker who has scored ten goals in 27 games in the Belgian top-flight championship this campaign is a major addition to the already existing quality for coach Héctor.
29-year-old goalkeeper Joel Kiassumbua is one of three options retained for the tie, alongside Lionel Mpasi Nzau and Herve Lomboto.
Star defender Chancel Mbemba Mangulu, 27, who has made 34 appearances in all competitions this season for Portuguese giants FC Porto, leads the options in a pack of nine established defenders including deputy skipper Marcel Jany Émile Tisserand of Fenerbahçe S.K in Turkey and English Premier star Fuka-Arthur Masuaku Kawela of West Ham United.
Hector’s defenders share 147 caps for the Leopards, with Mbemba’s 66 caps being the most.
France-based Gael Kakuta of RC Lens, Merveille Bope Bokadi of Standard Liege and Watford’s Edouard Kayembe Kayembe are the lead figures amongst nine midfielders invited to end a 48-year absence at the FIFA World Cup.
2017 and 2021 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup top scorer, Ben Malango Ngita joins Dieumerci Mbokani, multiple Swiss Champion Elia Meshack of Young Boys and Cédric Bakambu who is reviving his career at French side Olympique Marseille, to constitute the strike force for DR Congo whose last and only FIFA World participation dates back to 1974 as Zaire.
36-year-old Tresor Mputu Mabi who is still pulling the strings in attack for Congolese lone side in the group stages of this season’s CAF Confederation, TP Mazembe, didn’t make the cut, though he was included in a provisional squad that held a preparatory camp for the tie last December.
The Leopards of DR Congo will host Morocco’s Atlas Lions on March 25 at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa before making a trip to Casablanca for the return game four days later at the Mohamed V Stadium.
The winner of the tie will qualify for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup as Africa’s representative alongside four other winners.
The 28-man squad gives coach Héctor much quality as in the Moroccan squad thus making this tie quite interesting.
Goalkeepers:
Joël Kiassumbwa (FC Servette, Switzerland); Hervé Nguemba Lomboto (DC Motema Pembe, DR Congo); Lionel M’Pasi-Nzau (Rodez AF, France);
Defenders:
Chancel Mbemba (FC Porto, Portugal); Christian Luyindama Nekadio (Al Taawoun); Chris Mavinga (Toronto FC,Canada); Jordan Ikoko (Ludogorets Razgrad, Bulgaria); Arthur Masuaku (West Ham United, England); Vital Manuel N’Simba (Clermont Foot, France); Marcel Jany Émile Tisserand (Fenerbahçe, Turkey); Dieumerci Mukoko Amale (Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi, Morocco); Glodi Ngonda Muzinga (Riga FC, Latvia);
Midfielders:
Edouard Kayembe Kayembe (Watford, England); Samuel Christopher Bastien Binda (Standard Liège, Belgium); Samuel Moutoussamy (FC Nantes, France); Gaël Romeo Kakuta Mambenga (RC Lens, France); Paul-José Mpoku Ebunge (Konyaspor, Turkey); Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town, England); Merveille Bope Bokadi (Standard de Liège, Belgium);
Groups A&C qualified ,B&D to wait till final day
A first club into TotalEnergies CAF CC quarterfinals, all results of the weekend
Forwards:
Ben Malango Ngita ( Al-Sharjah, UAE); Chadrac Akolo (SC Amiens, France); Théo Bongonda (Genk, Belgium); Yoane Wissa (Brentford FC, England); Cédric Bakambu (Olympique Marseille, France); Elia Meschack (Young Boys, Switzerland); Yannick Bolasie (Çaykur Rizespor, Turkey); Neeskens Kebano (Fulham, England); Dieumerci Mbokani (Kuwait SC, Kuwait)
