DR Congo Leave Out Players Named In Nigeria’s FIFA Complaint For World Cup Play-off Squad

DR Congo Leave Out Players Named In Nigeria’s FIFA Complaint For World Cup Play-off Squad

By Admin 

The DR Congo national football team have left out two players highlighted in a complaint filed by the Nigeria Football Federation to FIFA, as they announced a 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup intercontinental play-offs, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Head coach Sébastien Desabre unveiled the squad on Wednesday, retaining the core group of players who helped the Leopards eliminate the Nigeria national football team on penalties during the African play-off round in Morocco in 2025.

Captain Chancel Mbemba leads the side, alongside experienced players including Cédric Bakambu, Yoane Wissa, and Samuel Moutoussamy, as DR Congo chase what would be their second appearance at the World Cup.

However, the squad announcement drew attention for the absence of Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Mario Stroeykens, two of the players specifically mentioned in Nigeria’s petition to FIFA over alleged eligibility violations.

Only Matheu Epolo, the third player prominently cited in the Nigerian complaint, has been included in the squad.

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

In the petition—made public on December 15, 2025—Nigeria called on FIFA to investigate the matter and consider disqualifying DR Congo from the qualification process.

The document listed several foreign-born players who featured against Nigeria, including Lionel Mpasi, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku, Samuel Moutoussamy, Ngal'ayel Mukau, Noah Sadiki, Nathanael Mbuku, and Cédric Bakambu in the starting line-up, as well as substitutes including Timothy Fayulu, Matheu Epolo, Joris Kayembe, Edo Kayembe, Steve Kapuadi, Gédéon Kalulu, Michel-Ange Balikwisha, and Mario Stroeykens.

Nigeria argued that several players received clearance to represent DR Congo only days before the decisive play-off on November 16, 2025, despite having been called up earlier for the fixture.

The complaint noted that at least three players—Balikwisha, Stroeykens and Epolo—were granted final eligibility approval between November 11 and 12, just days before the match.

Balikwisha made his international debut in that game and scored one of the penalties in the shoot-out that secured DR Congo’s progression. Stroeykens, meanwhile, was unable to make his debut after suffering an injury shortly after the encounter.

Epolo later earned his first senior cap for DR Congo on December 16, 2025, a day after Nigeria’s complaint became public.

The absence of Balikwisha and Stroeykens from the latest squad, particularly after Balikwisha’s decisive contribution in the previous round, has raised questions about whether the Congolese technical crew is seeking to avoid additional scrutiny while the case remains under review.

Despite the omissions, the squad suggests DR Congo remain confident ahead of the intercontinental play-offs, which will take place in Guadalajara and Monterrey.

For observers in Nigeria, the development may rekindle hopes that the federation’s protest has not been dismissed, particularly as FIFA has yet to publicly rule on the complaint months after it was filed.

With the decisive matches approaching, the eligibility dispute remains unresolved, leaving uncertainty hanging over DR Congo’s qualification campaign as the race for a place at the 2026 World Cup reaches its final stage.