DR Congo coach Florent Ibenge Ikwange has named the final 24-player squad for the Africa Cup of Nations due in Gabon in seven days’ time.
However, according article 72 of the tournament’s regulations, a team can only submit a maximum of 23 players to the CAF Secretariat 10 days before the opening match.
Les Leopards, who have been camping at the Caf Center of Execellence Mbakomo, Cameroon lost 2-0 to the hosts in a warm-up at Ominsports Stadium Yaoundé Thursday 5.
They held two training sessions Friday 6 before Ibenge finally revealed the team – ending the media speculations.
Five players including TP Mazembe duo Meshack Elia and Luyindama Nekadio Christian, DC Motema Pembe’s Tulengi Sindani Ricky and two foreign based players Thus Wilson Kamavuaka and Vital N’Simba were dropped from the initial 29-man provisional team.
The remaining 24 will continue with the Mbakomo camp ahead of their opening group “C” match against Morocco January 16 in Oyem.
The team consists three home-based professionals with the rest 21 plying their trade abroad.
They include Villareal danger-man Cedrick Bakambu, Jonathan Bolingi (TP Mazembe), Kebano Neskeens (Fulham) and Botaka Jordan (Charlton Athletic).
The Final 24:
Goalkeepers (3)
1.KIASUMBUA JOEL (WHOLLEN FC / SWITZERLAND) 2. MATAMPI VUMI LEY (TP MAZEMBE / RD CONGO) 3. KUDIMBANA NICAISE (ANTWERP / BELGIUM)
Defenders (7)
4. ISSAMA MPEKO DJO (TP MAZEMBE / RD CONGO) 5. BOPE BOKADI WONDER (TP MAZEMBE / RD CONGO) 6. LOMALISA MUTAMBALA (AS V.CLUB/ DR CONGO 7. Ikoko JORDAN (GUINGAMP / FRANCE)
8. WEAVER MARCEL ( FC INGOLSTADT / ALLEMAGNE) 9. ZAKUANI GABRIEL (PETERBOROUGH / ENGLAND) 10. FABRICE N’SAKALA (ALANYASPOR / TURKEY)
Midfielders (6)
11. MULUMBA REMY (GAZELE FC AJACCIO / FRANCE) 12. MPOKU PAUL-JOSE (PANATHINAIKOS / GREECE) 13. Hervé KAGE (KV COURTRAI / BELGIUM) 14. MBEMBA CHANCEL (NEWCASTLE / ENGLAND) 15. YOUSSUF MULUMBU (NORWICH CITY / ENGLAND ) 16. MAGHOMA JACQUES (BIRMINGHAM / ENGLAND) 17. KEBANO NEESKENS (FULHAM / GERMANY)
Strikers (7)
18. BAKAMBU CEDRICK (VILLAREAL / SPAIN) 22. BOLINGI MPANGI JONATHAN (TP MAZEMBE / SPAIN) 19. JUNIOR KABANANGA (ASTANA / KAZAKHSTAN) 20. JEREMY BOKILA LOTETEKA (AL QUARITTYAH / QATAR) RD CONGO) 23. BOTAKA JORDAN (CHARLTON / ENGLAND) 24. MBOKANI BEZUA DIEUMERCI (HULL CITY / ENGLAND)
