Cipenga set for DR Congo play-off, Castellón aim to limit absences | OneFootball

Brian Cipenga has been called up by DR Congo for their 31 March 2026 World Cup play-off, putting his CD Castellón availability under strain. The club are seeking to limit how many league games he misses.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, he must join up on 24 March, and Castellón will request clearance for him to face Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa at home on Monday 23 March, 20.30, before travelling. The club are negotiating with the Congolese federation so he misses two matches instead of three.

With Congo due to meet the winner of New Caledonia versus Jamaica on 31 March, Cipenga will definitely miss the fixtures on 28 March against Albacete and on two April against Almería.

If Congo win that tie, they will qualify for the World Cup next summer in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

This will be the fourth time he has been selected by Congo, all during his spell with Castellón. He did not feature in Congo’s win over Nigeria.

Cipenga has been pivotal for Castellón and was named LaLiga Hypermotion’s player of the month for February, his pace and dribbling consistently unsettling opposition full backs.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo