Wissa’s Injury Leads to Exclusion

The Democratic Republic of Congo has announced its 26-man squad for the upcoming africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco, but forward Yoane wissa will not be participating.The 29-year-old Newcastle United player has been sidelined since October with a knee injury sustained during international duty.

Despite recently returning to training, including participating in an 11-versus-11 drill with Newcastle on December 11, 2023, as reported by Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, Wissa was deemed not fit enough for selection by DR Congo coach Sebastien Desabre.

Squad Continuity and New Faces

Desabre has largely maintained the squad that secured DR Congo’s place in the inter-confederation playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, defeating nigeria in a penalty shootout last month in Rabat, Morocco. This victory earned them a playoff spot against either New Caledonia or jamaica in March 2024, with a place at the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the USA at stake.

The coach has included three players receiving their first call-ups: Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Matthieu Epolo, and Mario Stroeykens, all of whom previously represented Belgium at the junior international level. Balikwisha notably scored the decisive penalty in the shootout against Nigeria.

Tournament Details and Group Stage

DR Congo will compete in Group D of the Africa Cup of Nations, beginning their campaign against Benin in Rabat on December 23. They will also face Botswana and Senegal in their group stage matches.