World football's governing body has cleared two new players to join the DR Congo national team for their key World Cup 2026 African playoff matches. Forward Michel-Ange Balikwisha and goalkeeper Matthieu Epolo have received FIFA approval to switch their national team eligibility and are now available for selection by the Leopards.
This news comes at a key time. First-choice goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi Nzau is currently sidelined, making Epolo's availability especially timely. Both players were born in Belgium to Congolese families and had previously represented Belgium at youth and Under-21 levels, but never in a senior competitive match. FIFA stated that Epolo's switch was approved on Wednesday and Balikwisha's on Tuesday.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha currently plays for Celtic in Scotland. The 25-year-old forward brings experience from a top European league. Meanwhile, Matthieu Epolo is the goalkeeper for Standard Liege in the Belgian Pro League. Their past with Belgian youth teams is no longer a barrier, thanks to FIFA rules allowing a one-time switch for players without senior competitive caps.
Their immediate integration is vital for coach Sébastien Desabre as he finalizes his squad for the upcoming decisive matches. Fans can check the full roster of selected players on our squad page.
The Leopards face Cameroon in an African playoff semifinal this Thursday in Rabat, Morocco. The winner of that match will advance to the final on Sunday against the winner of the other semifinal between Nigeria and Gabon. The entire playoff bracket is being held in the Moroccan capital.
This final phase is the last chance for African teams to qualify for the intercontinental playoffs in March 2027. Two spots for the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be on offer there. DR Congo has qualified for the World Cup finals only once, in 1974 in West Germany, when the nation competed as Zaire.
The addition of Balikwisha and Epolo brings fresh talent and quality to a squad aiming to make history. Balikwisha provides another option in attack, while Epolo bolsters a goalkeeping position where the competition is now open with Mpasi Nzau unavailable.
These reinforcements arrive as the team must play two critical matches in four days. The busy schedule for this final World Cup qualifying push can be viewed on our fixtures page. The objective is clear: secure two victories in Rabat to keep the World Cup dream alive. The African playoff final is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, 2026.
