DRC: Aaron Tshibola called up to replace Rocky Bushiri at the 2026 World Cup

Major blow for the Leopards of the DRC just days before the start of the 2026 World Cup. The Congolese Football Association (FECOFA) has officially confirmed the withdrawal of Rocky Bushiri, who suffered an injury during his last match with Hibernian FC against Motherwell FC.

As a result, Rocky Bushiri will not be able to take part in the World Cup with the Leopards—a real setback for the Congolese squad, which loses a key player in its defensive lineup.

Aaron Tshibola called in for reinforcement

To compensate for this absence, the technical staff led by the DRC has decided to call up Aaron Tshibola, a midfielder currently playing for Kilmarnock FC. He now officially joins the list of 26 selected players for the tournament.

This decision has already sparked plenty of reactions, as Tshibola is a box-to-box midfielder while Bushiri played as a centre-back. The replacement is therefore not a like-for-like swap, suggesting that the coaching staff may be considering a tactical reshuffle for the tournament.

Nouya M'toama

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Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.