DR Congo includes footballers from European clubs in squad
The Democratic Republic of Congo national team has included six new footballers from European clubs in its squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches. According to the Cyprus Mail, citing Reuters, the team coached by Sébastien Desabre will play Equatorial Guinea in Kinshasa on September 24, before facing Zimbabwe away in Harare four days later.
New footballers in the squad
Former Manchester United central defender Willy Kambwala, who now plays for Italy's Como, has been called up. The squad also includes Ezechiel Banzuzi of Leipzig, Stanis Idumbo of Monaco, Jordy Makengo of Freiburg, Noah Mbamba of Lorient and Kevin Pedro of Saint-Étienne.
Banzuzi played for the Netherlands youth national teams, Idumbo and Mbamba for Belgium, and Pedro for France. They require FIFA approval to change football associations. At the time of publication, according to FIFA's association-change platform, none of the four switches had been approved.
Banzuzi announced on social media this week that he was switching to the DR Congo national team after playing for the Netherlands U-21 side. He posted a photograph wearing a DR Congo national team shirt.
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Friendly matches against Uganda
At this year's World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States, the DR Congo national team advanced from the group stage for the first time and reached the round of 32. In the match against England in Atlanta, the team was 15 minutes away from victory.
Desabre also plans to use friendly matches against Uganda on October 2 and 5 to persuade other players of Congolese origin to choose the DR Congo national team. Another six footballers from European clubs have been invited for these matches, including Ajax player Jorthy Mokio, as well as England U-20 national team players Paris Maghoma and Stephy Mavididi. The list also includes former Netherlands youth international Anthony Musaba of Norwich City.
Mokio had previously stated his desire to play for DR Congo, but after playing for Belgium in the Nations League in March 2025, he must wait three years. The rules allow footballers under the age of 21 who have played no more than three official matches for a senior national team to change associations after a three-year waiting period. The matches against Uganda are not competitive, so the question of Mokio's participation in them remains uncertain.
