Congo-Brazzaville national team head coach Barthelemy Gatsono has named  23 local based players ahead of third round tie with DR Congo in the Nations for African Championship (CHAN).

DR Congo will host Congo Brazzavile in the first leg clash on August 12, 2017 at New Kintele in Brazzaville with the reverse fixture slated for a week later in Kinshasa.

The aggregate winner after both legs will then advance to the 2018 Total CHAN finals that will be hosted in Kenya.

Coach Barthemely Gatsono’s squad is comprised of two new faces namely; right-back Ondongo Julfin of Star of Congo and Tongo forward Botamba Matheus to replace Mouka Barel, who will miss first leg because of family issues.

Also dropped include three youngsters who participated in the just concluded Francophone games in Abidjan namely:Nicolas Ondama,Jeasnique Konkani and Ondongo Julfin.

Congo Brazzaville will enter residential camp Kintele on Monday morning before starting training later in the afternoon.

The third round winners will qualify to represent the  Central African Zone at next year’s finals tournament, alongside hosts Kenya.

List of 23 pre-selected

Goalkeepers:

1- MOUKO Barel (La Mancha)

2- NDZILA Pavelh (Congo Star)

Defenders:

3- KIBAMBA Baron (Cara)

4- BISSIKI Dimitri (Leopards)

5- ONDONGO Julfin (Star of the Congo)

6- BAKOUA Carof (Leopards)

7- ROZAN Varel (Leopards)

8- ITOUA Béranger (CARA)

9- ONDONGO Faria (AS Otoho)

10- MAMPEMBE Samy (Star of the congo)

Midfielders

11- LAKOLO Hermann (Leopards)

12- GANDZE Cesair (Leopards)

13- Tchilimbou Harris (Leopards)

14- ANKIRA DUA Stanislas (Leopards)

15- KIFOUNIA Glenn (Cara)

16- LOUSSOUKOU Junior (CARA)

Attackers:

17- MBOUNGOU Prestige (Cara)

18- NGOMBE Jaures (Otoho)

19- OBASSI Bercyl (Otoho)

20- KONKANI Jeasnique (Young Fauves)

21- BOTAMBA Matheus (TONGO)

22- ONDAMA Nicolas (Cara)

23- MAKIESSE Junior (Leopards).