Former Yanga hero Fiston Mayele earns historic World Cup call-up with DRC

Former Young Africans S.C. striker Fiston Mayele has earned a place in the 26-man squad of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) national team, ‘The Leopards’, set to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.

 

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The 31-year-old forward, currently playing for Pyramids FC in Egypt, continues to make headlines across African football after becoming the only player based in Africa included in coach Sébastien Desabre’s final squad for the global tournament.

Fiston Mayele: A goal-scoring legend with Young Africans

Mayele’s selection has sparked excitement among football fans in Tanzania, especially supporters of Young Africans S.C., where the Congolese striker built a legendary reputation during his unforgettable two-year spell between 2021 and 2023.

DR Congo will return to the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time in 52 years since their last appearance in 1974. The Leopards have been drawn in a challenging group alongside Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan in the tournament scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

While Mayele is now shining in Egyptian football with Pyramids FC, many Tanzanian fans still remember him as one of the greatest foreign players to ever feature in the NBC Premier League.

During his time at Young Africans S.C., Mayele transformed the club into a dominant force both domestically and on the continental stage. He helped Yanga secure back-to-back Tanzanian Premier League titles in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons, ending the club’s four-year wait for the league crown.

The lethal striker also played a major role in Yanga’s historic 49-match unbeaten run in the league, while guiding the club to two Federation Cup titles and two Community Shield triumphs. One of his most memorable moments came on his debut when he scored the winning goal against fierce rivals Simba SC.

On the continental stage, Mayele inspired Yanga to their first-ever CAF Confederation Cup final during the 2022/23 season, where the Tanzanian giants narrowly lost to USM Alger.

Individually, the Congolese forward was unstoppable. He scored 54 goals in all competitions across two seasons, including 17 league goals in the 2022/23 campaign to win the NBC Premier League Golden Boot award. He also finished as the top scorer of the 2022/23 CAF Confederation Cup with seven goals.

His outstanding performances earned him several individual accolades, including the Tanzanian Premier League Player of the Season award and Goal of the Season honor.

Now set to feature on football’s biggest stage, Mayele’s World Cup call-up marks another proud chapter for a player whose legacy remains deeply rooted in Tanzanian football history.