The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) national team will be without midfielder Gaël Kakuta for their final matches in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, as the 33-year-old has been sidelined by injury.
The Congolese squad faces a tough lineup, traveling to play Guinea on November 16 before returning home to host Ethiopia three days later.
These games will conclude the qualifying rounds for the Leopards, who have already secured their place in the upcoming AFCON tournament with an impressive run of 12 points from four matches in Group H.
Kakuta, a regular starter for Esteghlal FC in Iran’s Pro League, suffered a thigh muscle strain that forced him off the field just 14 minutes into his recent club appearance.
Following medical assessments, the team confirmed his withdrawal, a setback that will see the experienced playmaker miss the chance to contribute in the final qualifiers.
In his absence, the Leopards have called up 19-year-old striker Jephte Kabwit from TP Mazembe. Kabwit, an emerging talent, will be making his debut for the national team.
Known for his pace and agility, he has shown promise in domestic competition, and his call-up represents a significant opportunity to impress on the international stage.
While Kakuta’s injury is an unfortunate blow to the team, the DRC’s performance in the qualifiers has been notably strong.
Under coach Sébastien Desabre, the Leopards dominated their group early on, achieving four consecutive wins that guaranteed their spot in the tournament.
With their qualification already secure, the final two matches present an opportunity for Desabre to experiment with fresh talent like Kabwit and provide valuable experience to younger players within the squad.
Kakuta, who has enjoyed a varied career with stints across European leagues and now in Iran, has been a key figure for the national team, known for his vision and playmaking skills.
His absence may prompt Desabre to look for alternative creative options in the midfield. However, with the team’s depth and strong group performance thus far, the Leopards remain confident about their prospects for the upcoming matches.
The DRC’s focus will not only be on maintaining their unbeaten run in the qualifiers but also on preparing a resilient squad ahead of the AFCON tournament.
The matches against Guinea and Ethiopia will serve as vital preparation, especially for newcomers like Kabwit, as the team fine-tunes its strategy for the continental competition.
As the Leopards aim to conclude their qualifying campaign on a high note, the absence of Kakuta adds an extra challenge, but it also signals a new chapter as younger players step up to play their part in DRC’s AFCON journey.
[𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲]
En raison d’une blessure, Gaël Kakuta est forfait pour le stage de novembre des Léopards A.
Il est remplacé par Oscar Kabwit (TP Mazembe) pour les matchs des 5e et 6e journées des éliminatoires de la CAN 2025.
Nous lui souhaitons un bon rétablissement ! 🙏… pic.twitter.com/g3tOF4xIED
— Fecofa RDC_Officiel (@FecofaRdc) November 9, 2024
