ZURICH: FIFA approved two soccer players to change national eligibility to Congo from Belgium ahead of 2026 World Cup qualifying playoffs for Africa starting Thursday.
Celtic forward Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Standard Liege goalkeeper Matthieu Epolo are now available to play for Congo against Cameroon in a playoffs semifinal.
Both players have Congolese family ties and were born in Belgium. They represented Belgium at youth and Under-21 level though not the senior national team, which let FIFA approve the changes.
FIFA said Epolo’s move was approved Wednesday and Balikwisha was cleared Tuesday.
The winner of Congo vs. Cameroon will advance to a playoff final Sunday against the winner of Nigeria vs. Gabon on Thursday. The entire playoff bracket is being played in Rabat, Morocco.
The African playoff winner advances to the six-team intercontinental playoffs in March that will send two teams to the World Cup being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Congo qualified for the World Cup just once, when as Zaire the team played at the 1974 edition in West Germany.
FIFA clears 2 recruits for Congo to play in African qualifying playoffs
https://arab.news/y6yt7
FIFA clears 2 recruits for Congo to play in African qualifying playoffs
- Both players have Congolese family ties and were born in Belgium
- FIFA said Epolo’s move was approved Wednesday and Balikwisha was cleared Tuesday
Southampton’s stunning fightback leaves Leicester in turmoil
LONDON: Southampton made an incredible late comeback from three goals down to beat crisis club Leicester 4-3 in the Championship on Tuesday.
Leicester interim manager Andy King looked set for his first victory since taking charge after first-half goals from Divine Mukasa, Patson Daka and Abdul Fatawu at the King Power Stadium.
But Southampton substitute Ross Stewart reduced the deficit in the 61st minute to spark the astonishing revival.
Leicester’s brittle confidence was exposed as Jack Stephens netted in the 82nd minute and Ryan Manning equalized five minutes later.
Shea Charles struck six minutes into stoppage time to snatch the points for Southampton in dramatic fashion, leaving King’s shell-shocked side without a win in six games.
Seven years after thrashing Southampton 9-0 at St. Mary’s, Leicester hit a devastating low of their own against the Saints.
Still searching for a permanent manager following Marti Cifuentes’ sacking, Leicester are outside the relegation zone only on goal difference.
The Foxes were recently deducted six points by the Football League for breaches of financial regulations.
Birmingham missed the chance to move into the play-off places after they were held to a 0-0 draw by West Bromwich Albion at St. Andrew’s.
New West Brom boss Eric Ramsay remains winless but claimed a second successive draw to help his side move two points above the relegation zone.
Mohamed Toure hit a hat-trick as Norwich made it five wins from their last six matches with a 3-0 victory at second-bottom Oxford.
