The coach of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Florent Ibengé, has unveiled a preliminary squad of 32 players to prepare for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. The list, announced on Tuesday, features a mix of established internationals and returning players, signaling the Leopards’ ambition to make a deep run in the tournament.
While the squad contains few surprises, notable inclusions include Jackson Muleka, a rising talent, and the return of goalkeeper Parfait Mandanda, who had not been called up for several matches since his participation in the 2015 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea. Another key figure is Giannelli Imbula, the Rayo Vallecano midfielder, who has accepted a call-up after previously declining almost all invitations to join the national team.
Ibengé emphasized the importance of a strong start, stating that the Leopards’ opening match against Uganda will set the tone for the tournament. “The most important thing for us is to get off to a good start against Uganda before playing the host country,” he told Cafonline.com. The coach believes that with steady improvement in each match, the team has the potential to advance deep into the competition. “We have every chance, and I think that to go as far as possible, we have to do better in every match,” he added.
Regarding the ultimate goal of lifting the trophy, Ibengé expressed optimism. “We will start the competition with 24 teams, but in the end only one will be crowned champion, and it is up to us to do well to be there on July 19th in Cairo,” he said. His comments underline the Leopards’ ambition to challenge for continental supremacy while focusing on gradual progress through each stage of the tournament.
As part of their preparations, the DRC squad will hold a training camp in Spain starting June 2nd. During this camp, they are scheduled to play two friendly matches to fine-tune their tactics and assess player performance: against Burkina Faso on June 9th and Kenya on June 15th. Following the camp, coach Ibengé will finalize a 23-man roster for the tournament proper.
At AFCON 2019, the Leopards have been drawn into Group A, alongside Uganda, host nation Egypt, and Zimbabwe. Their group-stage fixtures are set as follows: Uganda on June 22nd, Egypt on June 26th, and Zimbabwe on June 30th. With experienced internationals and emerging talents combined, the Leopards will look to secure maximum points in the opening matches, setting themselves up for a strong campaign in the knockout stages.
The preliminary squad, featuring a blend of domestic league stars and European-based players, reflects Ibengé’s strategy to balance experience, technical skill, and tactical versatility. Fans and analysts alike will be keen to see how the team gels during the Spanish training camp, particularly with key players like Imbula, Muleka, and Mandanda expected to provide leadership and quality on the pitch.
With preparations well underway, the DRC arrives in Egypt with confidence, ready to challenge for Africa’s most prestigious football prize and make a mark on AFCON 2019.
