Cédric Bakambu and three other senior members of the Democratic Republic of Congo national team have withdrawn from the squad ahead of Sunday’s international friendly against Madagascar in Orléans, France.
Bakambu, the 34-year-old forward who plays for Real Betis, was granted leave from the national team camp due to family-related matters.
The experienced striker, who has earned 58 caps and scored 16 goals for the Leopards, made a brief appearance in Thursday’s 1-0 victory over Mali, coming off the bench in the final 20 minutes.
His absence was confirmed by the Congolese Football Federation (Fecofa) via an official statement on its X (formerly Twitter) account.
The Leopards will also be without defenders Axel Tuanzebe and forward Afimico Pululu, both of whom have been released from the squad following medical assessments.
Fecofa indicated that the pair, who did not feature in the midweek match against Mali, are suffering from injuries and have been excused by the technical staff to begin treatment.
Tuanzebe’s absence marks the fourth time he has been unable to make his debut for the national side due to fitness issues.
The former Manchester United player has yet to earn his first cap for DR Congo despite being called up on multiple occasions.
For Pululu, who recently committed to representing the Leopards, the wait for a first appearance in national colours has also been extended.
Adding to the growing list of unavailable players is winger Théo Bongonda, who was forced off with an injury just 24 minutes into Thursday’s match against Mali.
The Spartak Moscow attacker has since returned to his club for further evaluation and rehabilitation. Bongonda’s absence leaves a notable gap in the squad, particularly given his attacking contributions in recent fixtures.
The spate of withdrawals represents a significant blow to head coach Sébastien Desabre as he prepares his side for the upcoming fixture against Madagascar, which concludes the team’s current international break.
While the match is a friendly, it serves as a crucial part of the Leopards’ preparations ahead of more competitive fixtures later in the year.
The match against Mali, played earlier this week, saw the Leopards claim a narrow 1-0 win. The result offered a morale boost, but the team’s preparations have since been disrupted by the loss of several key players. Desabre will now be forced to reshuffle his plans and potentially test new combinations and emerging talent in the squad.
Despite the setbacks, the DR Congo coaching staff remain optimistic about maintaining a strong performance against Madagascar.
The fixture offers an opportunity for other squad members to step into more prominent roles and stake a claim for future call-ups in what remains a competitive environment for national selection.
The full extent of the injuries sustained by Tuanzebe, Pululu, and Bongonda has not been disclosed, and it remains unclear whether any of the trio will be fit in time for the team’s next official assignments.
Meanwhile, no specific details were provided about the nature of Bakambu’s family circumstances, though his release from duty was described by the federation as “fully justified.”
With four senior players now absent, attention will turn to how DR Congo adapts against Madagascar, as they look to close out the break on a high note despite the trimmed squad.
🚨 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐐𝐔𝐄́ 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐋#Fecofardc #Leopards #AxelTuanzebe #AfimicoPululu #ThéoBongonda #CédricBakambu pic.twitter.com/5TI9Lm6TPL
— Fecofa RDC_Officiel (@FecofaRdc) June 6, 2025
