DR Congo coach, Florent Ibenge, has named a 24-man strong squad for Leopards’ decisive 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against the Lone Stars on 24 March.
The 57-year-old has handed a second chance against Liberia to Standard Liege defender Merveille Bope Bokadi, who last year asked to be left out of the national team unless he was guaranteed playing time.
Also handed a return is AS Vita’s Padou Bompunga Botuli who has so far emerged as the best defender in the Congolese top-flight league and Veteran striker Dieumerci Mbokani who currently turns for Belgian outfit, Royal Antwerp.
Several players who are regulars in the team were left out of the squad for various reasons including injuries, loss of form, lack of playing time and the chance for the coach to observe other players.
Injuries led to exclusion of Gael Kakuta who plays for La Liga side Rayo Valencano. Wilfred Abro Moke looks to have lost his place in the squad because of the lack of playing time at his club and Fulham’s Neeskens Kebano.
Liberia needs nothing less than a win against DR Congo to book their spot in the continental competition set to take place in Egypt.
Group leaders Zimbabwe are at 8 points followed by Liberia with 7, DR Congo have 6 and Congo Brazzaville 5.
The squad:
Goalkeepers: Auguy Katembwe Kalambay (SM Sanga Balende), Ley Matampi Mvumi (Al-Ansar, Saudi Arabia), Anthony Mossi Ngawu (FC Chiasso, Switzerland)
Defenders: Issama Mpeko Djos (TP Mazembe), Djuma Shabani Wadol, Glody Ngonda Muzinga, Padou Bompunga Botuli (all AS Vita Club), Arthur Masuaku (West Ham, England), Bobo Ungenda Muselenge (Primeiro de Agusto, Angola), Christian Luyindama Nekadio (Galatasaray, Turkey), Merveille Bope Bokadi (Standard Liege, Belgium), Marcel Tisserand (Wolfsburg, Germany)
Midfielders: Jacques Maghoma (Birmingham City, England), Chancel Mbemba (FC Porto, Portugal), Paul-José Mpoku Ebunge (Standard Liege, Belgium), Tresor Mabi Mputu (TP Mazembe), Fabrice Luamba Ngoma, Nelson Omba Munganga (both AS Vita Club), Youssouf Mulumbu (Kilmarnock, Scotland)
Forwards: Cedric Bakambu (Beijing Guoan, China), Yannick Bolasie (Anderlecht, Belgium), Dieumerci Mbokani Bezua, Jonathan Bolingi (both Royal Antwerp, Belgium), Elia Lina Meschack (TP Mazembe)
