DR Congo has sidelined NFF-disputed players ahead of the crucial play-offs.
Glamtush reports that the Democratic Republic of Congo have omitted two players highlighted in the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) complaint to FIFA as they unveiled a 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup intercontinental play-offs, a development that adds fresh intrigue to an eligibility dispute still awaiting a verdict from world football’s governing body.
Head coach Sébastien Desabre released the Leopards’ squad on Wednesday, retaining the core players who guided the team past Nigeria on penalties in the African play-off round while recalling several names absent from the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Captain Chancel Mbemba leads the side alongside established figures such as Cedric Bakambu, Yoane Wissa and Samuel Moutoussamy as DR Congo pursue a second appearance at the World Cup.
However, the announcement is notable for the absence of Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Mario Stroeykens, two of the players Nigeria specifically highlighted in its formal complaint to FIFA over alleged eligibility breaches.
Only Matheu Epolo, the third player mentioned prominently in the Nigerian petition, has been included in Desabre’s squad.
Nigeria lodged the complaint after losing the African play-off tie to DR Congo 4–3 on penalties, arguing that the Congolese federation misled FIFA in securing nationality switches for several overseas-born players.
The petition, made public on December 15, 2025, asked FIFA to investigate the matter and potentially disqualify DR Congo from the qualification process.
The Nigerian federation’s document listed numerous foreign-born players who featured against the Super Eagles, including Lionel Mpasi, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku, Samuel Moutoussamy, Ngal’ayel Mukau, Noah Sadiki, Nathanael Mbuku and Cedric Bakambu in the starting line-up, as well as substitutes Timothy Fayulu, Matheu Epolo, Joris Kayembe, Edo Kayembe, Steve Kapuadi, Gédéon Kalulu, Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Mario Stroeykens.
In the complaint, released publicly by journalist Osasu Obayiuwana, Nigeria argued that several players obtained clearance to represent DR Congo only days before the decisive play-off match against them, despite having been called up earlier for the fixture.
The document questioned how the Congolese federation could summon players before final approval had been granted by FIFA.
“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,” the complaint read.
“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.”
Balikwisha had made his debut against Nigeria and converted one of the penalties in the shoot-out that secured DR Congo’s progression, while Stroeykens was unable to earn his first senior cap after sustaining an injury soon after the match.
Epolo, meanwhile, only made his international debut for the Leopards on December 16, 2025, a day after Nigeria’s complaint became public.
Their absence from the new squad, particularly Balikwisha’s omission despite his decisive role in the previous round, inevitably raises questions about whether the Congolese coaching staff are attempting to avoid further scrutiny while the case remains unresolved.
At the same time, the overall squad selection suggests DR Congo are preparing for the intercontinental play-offs with confidence.
For observers in Nigeria, the omission of the two players may revive belief that the federation’s protest has not been dismissed, especially given FIFA’s continued silence months after the complaint was submitted. Yet there has been no official indication that the governing body intends to overturn the result of the African play-off.
With the decisive matches in Guadalajara and Monterrey approaching, the dispute remains unresolved. Whether the squad changes reflect tactical decisions or a cautious response to the ongoing complaint, the eligibility controversy continues to cast a shadow over DR Congo’s World Cup ambitions as the qualification battle edges closer to its final stage.
