DR Congo are pushing to naturalize France youth duo Dilane Bakwa and Arnaud Kalimuendo ahead of their crucial 2026 World Cup playoff.
Having emerged champions in the African playoff back in November, the Leopards will compete in the intercontinental playoff scheduled for March 2026.
DR Congo will face Jamaica or New Caledonia, with victory crucial to secure qualification to the global showpiece, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
As the playoff approaches, the DR Congo FA are said to be working tirelessly to secure the France youth internationals, who plies their trade for Nottingham Forest in England.
Both have represented France at youth level, but remain eligible to switch allegiance to the African country.
As it stands, France youth internationals Warren Bondo (AC Milan, on loan at Cremonese) and Willy Kambwala (Villarreal) are both set to be called up, having already agreed to join the DR Congo set-up.
Meanwhile, there are plenty of other recognizable names that DR Congo continue to target, including Stade Brestois’ Bradley Locko, Paris FC’s Obed Nkambadio, FC Lorient’s Jean-Victor Makengo, Watford’s Marc Bola, Werder Bremen’s Samuel Mbangula, Fenerbahce’s Anthony Musaba, Freiburg’s Jordy Makengo, Brentford’s Antoni Milambo, Utrecht’s Alonzo Engwanda, and RB Leipzig’s Ezechiel Banzuzi.
