DR Congo face injury concern as Jérémy Ngakia doubts grow ahead of World Cup play-offs

DR Congo defender Jérémy Ngakia is expected to miss the intercontinental play-off matches for the 2026 World Cup after suffering a hamstring injury while playing for his club, Watford.

The right-back was absent from Watford’s most recent match, raising concerns about his fitness and casting doubt over his ability to join the national team for the upcoming fixtures.

His club manager, Edward Still, confirmed that the Congolese international is likely to be out of action for several weeks, dealing a potential blow to DR Congo’s preparations.

The injury comes at a crucial moment for the national side as they prepare for decisive matches that could determine their path to the 2026 World Cup.

Ngakia has been a regular defensive option and his possible absence could leave a significant gap in the squad.

The timing of the setback is particularly difficult for DR Congo as the team approaches one of the most important stages of its qualification campaign.

The Watford defender’s absence from his club’s latest game first raised concerns about his condition.

Those fears were reinforced when his manager confirmed that the player would need time to recover from the hamstring problem.

For DR Congo head coach Sébastien Desabre, the situation represents an unwelcome challenge.

Losing an experienced defender just before a crucial international encounter could force the technical staff to reconsider their defensive plans.

Ngakia has been regarded as an important part of the team’s defensive structure, offering reliability at right-back and contributing to the balance of the side.

With the play-off fixtures approaching, attention will now turn to the player’s recovery and whether he can return in time to feature for the national team.

For the moment, however, his availability remains uncertain, leaving DR Congo facing the possibility of entering a decisive stage of their World Cup campaign without one of their key defensive players.