DR Congo seek to build a «Dream Team» with European roots for World Cup | OneFootball

After qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in 52 years, the African side launched a charm offensive to bring in gems playing in France and England. The goal: not to just make up the numbers in Group K alongside Colombia and Portugal.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is living a dream it does not want to wake up from. After finally shaking off the jinx and qualifying for its second World Cup after more than half a century (the last time was in 1974), the Africans do not want to head to North America just to fill a spot. That is why coach Sébastien Desabre and the federation got to work on an ambitious plan: naturalize more than ten footballers who are shining in Europe but have Congolese blood.

The euphoria after beating Jamaica in the playoff is still lingering, but football is not lived on memories alone, and the «Leopards» are already looking under every rock to strengthen the squad. The move is aimed at players born or raised in the Old Continent, mainly in the French and English leagues, who have not yet made their senior international debut and are eligible to wear Congo’s shirt.

On the list of «possibles» are some intimidating names that would give a huge boost in quality to the core already led by experienced figures Chancel Mbemba and Cédric Bakambu. Among those being targeted are:

The strategy is crystal clear: make the most of European development to build a team capable of springing a surprise. It will not be easy, because at the World Cup they were drawn into Group K, a tough section where they will have to face star-studded Portugal, an always dangerous Colombia, and a gritty Uzbekistan.

In Congo they know they have enough to compete with what they already have, but with these luxury «reinforcements» they dream of making it past the group stage for the first time in their history and no longer being the tournament’s Cinderella.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.