World Cup: Sébastien Desabre explains DR Congo’s final squad

Sébastien Desabre, the head coach of the DR Congo, has shared his insights regarding his final 26-man squad selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Frenchman made the announcement on Monday, May 18, retaining the majority of the players who featured in the inter-confederation qualifiers for the final roster.

Desabre Unveils Final 26-Man DR Congo Roster for 2026 World Cup

Goalkeepers Lionel Mpasi, Timothé Fayulu, and Mathieu Epolo, who all secured their places in the squad during the playoffs, have been trusted once again by the experienced manager.

The only notable omission from the previous defensive lineup is Watford’s Jeremy Ngakia, who missed out to make way for the inclusion of Gédéon Kalulu.

Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe, who famously scored the winning goal against Jamaica in the decisive inter-continental playoff, made the cut alongside West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Lille stalwart Chancel Mbemba, Lens’ Arthur Masuaku, and Rocky Bushiri—who made a swift recovery from a minor injury over the weekend—have also been included in the selection.

Sébastien Desabre : « Il a fallu faire des choix rationnels, basés sur ce que nous avons mis en place depuis quatre ans. Beaucoup de choses ont été construites sur le plan tactique et au niveau des habitudes de travail. La Coupe du monde n’est pas le moment de faire des tests ;… pic.twitter.com/oXcloLX2SS

— Jeunes Patriotes Congolais (@JPCongolais) May 18, 2026

Speaking at a press conference, Desabre explained: “We had to make rational choices, based on what we’ve put in place over the past four years.

“A lot of things have been built on the tactical level and in terms of work habits. The World Cup is not the time to run tests; we need to consolidate what we’ve done well.”

Notable inclusions in the midfield department include Sunderland’s Noah Sadiki and Théo Bongonda, who is currently heavily linked with a move away from Spartak Moscow.

Sébastien Desabre caused quite a stir by completely omitting players who ply their trade in the domestic league.
Pyramids FC attacker Fiston Mayele stands as the sole player based on the African continent, selected alongside Real Betis’ Cédric Bakambu, Al Jazira’s Simon Banza, and Newcastle United’s Yoane Wissa.

The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The Leopards booked their historic ticket to the finals after a narrow 1-0 victory over Jamaica in the intercontinental playoff, marking their triumphant return to the global tournament after a 52-year absence.

They have been placed in Group K alongside football powerhouses Portugal, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.

The official squad list called up by the Congolese head coach stands as follows:

Goalkeepers: Lionel Mpasi, Timothé Fayulu, Mathieu Epolo.

Defenders: Chancel Mbemba, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku, Joris Kayembe, Nathan Kapuadi, Rocky Bushiri, Dylan Batubinsika, Gédéon Kalulu.

Midfielders: Noah Sadiki, Samuel Moutoussamy, Edo Kayembe, Ngal’ayel Mukau, Charles Pickel, Nathanaël Mbuku, Christian Cipenga, Gaël Kakuta, Meschack Elia, Théo Bongonda.

Forwards: Fiston Mayele, Cédric Bakambu, Simon Banza, Yoane Wissa.