DR Congo deprived of four players ahead of Madagascar clash!

The Democratic Republic of Congo national team is gearing up for a friendly against Madagascar, this Sunday, June 8, at the Stade de la Source in Orléans, France, rounding off their training camp.

Sébastien Desabre’s men claimed a crucial victory over Mali (1-0) last Thursday as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. This morale-boosting win strengthens the positive momentum of the Leopards, two-time African champions.

However, the French coach will have to do without four key players before taking on the Barea. Cédric Bakambu left the camp for family reasons after playing a few minutes against Mali. Meanwhile, Afimico Pululu, Axel Tuanzebe, and Théo Bongonda have also left the squad due to injuries.

These absences could open the door for other players to make their mark, such as Nathanaël Mbuku, Fiston Kalala Mayele, and Simon Banza, who remained on the bench in the previous match. All of them will be eager to impress ahead of upcoming official fixtures.

Official statement from FECOFA

The Congolese Football Association (FECOFA) wishes to inform the public and the football community of the following:

In agreement with the technical staff:

– Players Axel Tuanzebe, Afimico Pululu, and Théo Bongonda have been authorized to leave the Leopards’ training camp due to injuries.
– Player Cédric Bakambu has been allowed to leave the Leopards’ camp for family reasons.

Broadcast channels for DRC – Madagascar

The match between DR Congo and Madagascar is expected to be broadcast on the national channel RTNC in the DRC. The game may also be available on certain digital platforms, such as FIFA+, or streamed live on the official social media channels of the national team or the broadcaster.

Kick-off is scheduled for 15:00 GMT (16:00 in Kinshasa, 18:00 in Antananarivo).

Also read: Exclusive interview: Senegal the favorite against DRC according to Yves Diba Ilunga!

Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.