Real Betis forward Cedric Bakambu has been named in a DR Congo squad for the first time in over one-year.
Bakambu, who has been in a rich vein of form has been included in coach Sébastien Desabre’s 25-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Sudan and Mauritania.
The 33-year-old last represented DR Congo during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament held in Ivory Coast in early 2024.
Bakumbu, who struggled last year has regained his form in the Spanish La Liga with Real Betis, earning him a return to the national team. This season, he has racked up 4 goals and provided 3 assists from 26 games across competitions.
Despite not playing a role, DR Congo managed to secure qualification to the Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Morocco later this year after finishing top in Group H.
His return comes as a huge boost for the national team as they seeks to secure qualification to the biggest soccer mundial to be staged in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Since making his debut in 2015, Bakambu has racked up 16 goals from 54 appearances for the DR Congo national team.
English-based midfielder Grady Diangana and defender Axel Tuanzebe also return to the squad for the Group B fixtures this month.
Diangana last played in the World Cup equalisers in June last year and is back after seeing out the entire 2025 Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Tuanzebe was injured last November when the Congolese completed their Cup of Nations preliminaries with defeats to Guinea and Ethiopia.
Irish-born defender Peter Kioso, who plays for Oxford United in England’s Championship, is dropped along with Belgian-based midfielder William Balikwisha (OH Leuven, Belgium), Dinamo Zagreb striker Nathanaël Mbuku and veteran Gael Kakuta, who was called up last November but then withdrew.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Dimitry Bertaud (Montpellier, France), Timothy Fayulu (Sion, Switzerland), Lionel Mpasi (Rodez, France)
Defenders: Dylan Batubinsika (St Etienne, France), Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian, Scotland), Henock Inonga (AS FAR, Morocco), Gédéon Kalulu (Lorient, France), Joris Kayembe (Genk, Belgium), Arthur Masuaku (Besiktas, Turkey), Chancel Mbemba (Olympique de Marseille, France), Axel Tuanzebe (Ipswich Town, England)
Midfielders: Theo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow, Russia), Grady Diangana (West Bromwich Albbion, England), Meshack Elia (Nantes, France), Silas Katompa Mvumpa (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Edo Kayembe (Watford, England), Samuel Moutoussamy (Sivasspor, Turkey), Ngal’ayel Mukau (Lille, France), Charles Pickel (Cremonense, Italy), Noah Sadiki (Union Saint Gilloise, Belgium)
Forwards: Cedric Bakambu (Real Betis, Spain), Simon Banza (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Samuel Essende (Ausgburg, Germany), Fiston Mayele (Pyramids, Egypt), Yoane Wissa (Brentford, England).
