World Cup 2026 qualifiers: DR Congo deprived of a key player against Senegal

Africa 20 June 2025 at 06:05

Imed Ben Amara

News Editor

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will be without their star forward Theo Bongonda for the match against Senegal, set for September 8, as part of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

As group B leaders, the two-time African champions will need to secure victory against the “Lions” if they hope to take a major step toward qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

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Sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury, the Spartak Moscow player will be out of action for three months and will therefore miss the crucial clash against the “Lions.”

Theo Bongonda’s record with DR Congo

A former Belgian youth international, he switched his sporting nationality to Congolese in 2022. In 28 appearances for the “Leopards” across all competitions, he has scored 5 goals and provided just one assist.