The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have announced a formidable 24-man squad for their final 2024African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier against Chad.

Leopards A’ coach Otis Ngoma has selected a squad stacked with players from the top clubs in the DRC, including several players playing for their two clubs in the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Seven representatives from AS Maniema Union and five from TP Mazembe – the two sides playing in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League – were named in the team.

FC St Éloi Lupopo also have five players in the squad. 

Headlining the squad are midfielders Soze Zemanga of TP Mazembe and Joseph Bakasu from AS Maniema Union, while striker Jephté Kitambala will lead the line for the hosts.

Defensively, the Leopards will rely on the experience of TP Mazembe duo Ernest Luzolo Sita and Magloire Tambwe Kalonji, as well as Kaluo Mokonzi Katumbwe and Papy Kokeleya from FC St Éloi Lupopo.

In goal, Brudel Efongé Lyongo of AS Maniema Union is set to stake his claim for the starting spot, alongside Jackson Lunanga Sankiaro of OC Renaissance and Baggio Siadi Ngusia of TP Mazembe.

The squad is rounded out by the inclusion of six reserve players, underlining the depth of talent available to Ngoma as the DR Congo seek to overcome Chad and advance to the CHAN 2024 tournament.

The two-legged tie will see the first match played on December 21 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, before the return leg a week later in Kinshasa.

The Leopards will be looking to assert their dominance over Chad and take a significant step towards securing their place in the 2024 African Nations Championship.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Brudel Efongé Lyongo (AS Maniema Union), Jackson Lunanga Sankiaro (OC Renaissance), Baggio Siadi Ngusia (TP Mazembe)

Defenders: Dieu Merci Lupini (AS Maniema Union), Ernest Luzolo Sita (TP Mazembe), Magloire Tambwe Kalonji (TP Mazembe), Kaluo Mokonzi Katumbwe (FC St Éloi Lupopo), Osé Ndombele (AS Maniema Union), Heltone Kayembe Mujanay (Les Aigles du Congo), Papy Kokeleya (FC St Éloi Lupopo)

Midfielders: Soze Zemanga (TP Mazembe), Joseph Bakasu (AS Maniema Union), Mika Miché (FC St Éloi Lupopo), Agée Basiala (AS Maniema Union), Jacques Nkunku Kumbundu (Blessing FC), Ibrahim Matobo Mubalu (Les Aigles du Congo), Lyse Nyembo Tumba (FC St Éloi Lupopo), Oscar Kabwit Tshikomb (TP Mazembe), Jeancy Mboma Kinda (AS Maniema Union), Jonathan Ikangalombo Kapela (AS V. Club)

Forwards: Tonny Madudu Talasi (Green Angels), Horsö Mwaku Malanga (FC St Éloi Lupopo), Jephté Kitambala (AS Maniema Union), Silva Tshitenge (AC Rangers)

-CAF

Remo Stars’ Sports Institute, the new base camp for Nigeria’s national teams is currently bubbling as the Super Eagles B currently preparing for confrontation with Ghana’s Black Galaxies.

The serene camp equipped with high-class facilities including different types of modern turfs has played host to players of Super Falcons and Flying Eagles recently.

The second-tier Nigerian national team is the latest as the players intensify the quest for Nigeria’s  fourth appearance at the African Nations Championship which is entering its eighth edition in January.

 A total of 30 players were assembled last week at the impressive facility, as the Eagles prepare for a potentially-explosive home-and-away qualifying fixture against the Black Galaxies of Ghana.

 Only the Enyimba FC duo of goalkeeper Henry Ozoemena and defender Imo Obot were excused, as the two are seen as pivotal to the People’s Elephant’s ongoing campaign in the group phase of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Ozoemena was particularly brilliant in Enyimba FC’s encounter against Zamalek FC of Egypt in Uyo on Sunday, with a dozen big saves that enabled the Aba giants to earn a 2-2 draw.

Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2009, 2011, 2021 and 2023 finals of the competition exclusively reserved for players plying their trade in the domestic Leagues of their countries and possessing permanent contracts. However, appearances in 2014 (in South Africa) and 2018 (in Morocco) saw the Super Eagles mount the podium, with bronze medals in the former and silver medals in the latter. The 2016 campaign in Rwanda ended at the group stage.

Coaches Daniel Ogunmodede and Fidelis Ikechukwu have been working over-time with the players as the countdown begins to the first leg, scheduled for the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, 22^nd December.

In two of the four previous times that the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the competition popularly called CHAN, Ghana was the bogey team. In the qualifiers for the inaugural edition in Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria took a 2-0 first half lead in Accra, only to eventually lose the match 2-3. The return at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar ended scoreless.

In the qualifiers for the last edition hosted by Algeria, Ghana won 2-0 at home and lost by the same margin in Abuja, only to snatch the ticket after a penalty shootout.

Togo ensured Nigeria’s absence from the 2021 finals, with the Hawks gaining a 4-1 win in Togo. A 2-0 win in Lagos by Nigeria was not enough to overturn the advantage.

Apart from the intense rivalry with Ghana on the field of play, the Super Eagles B see this month’s qualifying fixture as an opportunity to regain their pride of place in the hearts of Nigerian ball fans, having missed two consecutive editions of the CHAN.

BY KUNLE SOLAJA

It is 20 days to the first leg match of Ghana versus Nigeria in the 2025 African Nations qualifying series. A list of 30 players have been issued by the Nigerian head coach. The most high-profile player in the Nigerian league, Ahmed Musa, is a glaring absentee.

Although the African Nations Championship is for nationals featuring in the domestic league, Musa is ineligible as earlier reported by Sports Village Square a month ago on 1 November.

There were speculations some days ago that his featuring for Kano Rovers had been regularised and that he could be called up for the CHAN matches.

A source at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has informed that Musa still have a short-term contract with the Kano club.

The regulations governing the qualification of players for the African Nations Championship therefore rule out the eligibility of Ahmed Musa from being part of the Nigerian team that will face Ghana on 22 and 28 December.

The African Nations Championship is for players who are citizens of the country and play in the domestic league.

Ordinarily, Ahmed Musa who had captained the Nigerian lead brand, Super Eagles, and now features in the domestic league with Kano Pillars should have been eligible.

He has signed for the club and is having his third stint after featuring for Kano Pillars between 2009/10 and 2021.

He signed for the club for the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season as a free agent after terminating his contract with Turkish club Sivasspor in February. 

He is with Kano Pillars along with another former Super Eagles player, Sheu Abdullahi on short-term contracts.

That is where there is an issue. Article 38 in Chapter 16 of the Regulations of the African Nations Championship spells out the qualification of players.

Article 38.2 reads: “Only players with permanent contract registered in a local club affiliated to their national association are eligible to participate in the African Nations Championship.”

Musa’s contract with Kano Pillars is short-term.