Desabre backs Mayele’s DR Congo future after lucrative move to Libya

Fiston Mayele will remain in contention for selection by DR Congo despite leaving Egypt’s Pyramids FC for Libyan club Al-Ahli Tripoli, national team manager Sebastien Desabre says.

The 32-year-old striker completed the move during the current transfer window after helping Pyramids FC win the 2025-26 CAF Champions League. He has signed a two-year contract with Al-Ahli Tripoli and is set to earn €8.57m before bonuses and other benefits.

That agreement makes Mayele the highest-paid footballer playing in Africa, with his salary comparable to the earnings available at some major European clubs.

Mayele had already been earning a substantial income in Egypt and reportedly turned down an offer from Cairo giants Al Ahly. The club had proposed a two-year deal worth an annual salary of €2.57m, but the DR Congo international chose to wait before deciding on his next move.

His switch from the Egyptian league to the Libyan Premier League represents a move to a less highly rated competition in sporting terms. Egypt’s top flight is widely regarded as one of the strongest leagues in Africa, alongside the South African championship. However, Desabre said Mayele’s decision was understandable, particularly given the financial circumstances surrounding the transfer.

The striker kept Desabre regularly updated during his negotiations with Al-Ahli Tripoli. Speaking exclusively to Afrik-Foot, the French manager said Mayele had spent much of his career earning relatively modest salaries and was entitled to consider the opportunity presented by the Libyan club.

Mayele first attracted significant attention during his time with AS Vita Club and then became particularly well known at Young Africans in Tanzania before moving to Pyramids FC.

Desabre also made clear that the transfer would not affect Mayele’s standing as a DR Congo international. The forward made his debut for the Leopards in 2023 and has since won 38 caps, scoring six goals. He also scored for DR Congo at the World Cup in a 3-1 victory against Uzbekistan.

“Like all the others, he will have to perform for his club and will face competition in the national team. But I see no reason not to select a player because he plays in Libya,” Desabre said.

The manager’s comments indicate that Mayele is expected to be included in the DR Congo squad for two Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying matches in September. The Leopards are scheduled to face Equatorial Guinea in Kinshasa and Zimbabwe.

Before those international fixtures, Mayele is expected to make his first appearances for Al-Ahli Tripoli. His new club will compete in the Libyan Premier League and in the CAF Confederation Cup, beginning with a first-round preliminary tie against KMKM of Zanzibar.

The first leg is scheduled for Saturday, giving Mayele the opportunity to begin his new chapter in Libya shortly after completing one of the most financially significant transfers involving an African-based player.