The Leopards reach their first World Cup since 1974 (as Zaire) the hard way — beating Nigeria on penalties in the CAF play-off, then edging Jamaica 1-0 in the intercontinental play-off in Mexico. Captain Mbemba anchors the back line; Wissa, veteran Bakambu and Bongonda lead the attack that drew Portugal and beat Uzbekistan to finish third in Group K.
Head coach
Sébastien Desabre
Since 2022
Group result
Group K (3rd place)
R32: vs England
Squad avg age
28.2
26-player squad
Squad market value
€144m
est., 26 of 26
Next fixture
Jul 1 · Atlanta →
First World Cup since 1974 (as Zaire)
Squad
Full 26-man squad · club at selection · senior caps| # | Pos | Player | Club (league) | Age | Caps | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Lionel Mpasi | Le Havre (FRA) | 31 | 29 | €400k |
| 16 | GK | Timothy Fayulu | Noah (ARM) | 26 | 3 | €800k |
| 21 | GK | Matthieu Epolo | Standard Liège (BEL) | 20 | 1 | €8m |
| 2 | DF | Aaron Wan-Bissaka | West Ham United (ENG) | 28 | 12 | €15m |
| 3 | DF | Steve Kapuadi | Widzew Łódź (POL) | 27 | 4 | €2.5m |
| 4 | DF | Axel Tuanzebe | Burnley (ENG) | 28 | 14 | €5m |
| 5 | DF | Dylan Batubinsika | AEL (GRE) | 29 | 14 | €600k |
| 12 | DF | Joris Kayembe | Genk (BEL) | 31 | 26 | €2m |
| 22 | DF | Chancel Mbemba(C) | Lille (FRA) | 31 | 109 | €2m |
| 24 | DF | Gédéon Kalulu | Aris Limassol (CYP) | 28 | 28 | €1m |
| 26 | DF | Arthur Masuaku | Lens (FRA) | 32 | 45 | €2m |
| 6 | MF | Ngal'ayel Mukau | Lille (FRA) | 21 | 14 | €15m |
| 7 | MF | Nathanaël Mbuku | Montpellier (FRA) | 23 | 19 | €2m |
| 8 | MF | Samuel Moutoussamy | Atromitos (GRE) | 29 | 58 | €1.2m |
| 10 | MF | Théo Bongonda | Spartak Moscow (RUS) | 30 | 38 | €3m |
| 14 | MF | Noah Sadiki | Sunderland (ENG) | 21 | 20 | €35m |
| 15 | MF | Aaron Tshibola | Kilmarnock (SCO) | 30 | 17 | €150k |
| 18 | MF | Charles Pickel | Espanyol (ESP) | 28 | 34 | €2.5m |
| 25 | MF | Edo Kayembe | Watford (ENG) | 27 | 43 | €4m |
| 9 | FW | Brian Cipenga | Castellón (ESP) | 27 | 8 | €2m |
| 11 | FW | Gaël Kakuta | AEL (GRE) | 34 | 31 | €250k |
| 13 | FW | Meschak Elia | Alanyaspor (TUR) | 28 | 69 | €1.5m |
| 17 | FW | Cédric Bakambu | Real Betis (ESP) | 34 | 70 | €1.2m |
| 19 | FW | Fiston Mayele | Pyramids (EGY) | 31 | 37 | €1.8m |
| 20 | FW | Yoane Wissa | Newcastle United (ENG) | 29 | 38 | €25m |
| 23 | FW | Simon Banza | Al Jazira (UAE) | 29 | 15 | €10m |