Gabriel Charpentier © Gallo Images

Congo, who are in the same Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group as South Africa, have made changes after their devastating defeat in their last match and named their squad for the start of their campaign to qualify for the 2025 finals in Morocco.

In June, the Congolese national team suffered a 6-0 defeat in Morocco in World Cup qualifying and coach Isaac Ngata said the Africa Cup of Nations was a chance for the team to get back on their feet.

Congo begin their campaign in Group K at home against South Sudan in Brazzaville on Thursday 5 September, before facing Uganda away in Kampala on 9 September.

In October they will face Bafana Bafana in their third and fourth group matches, home and away.

Called up for the first time to the team were former French junior international Melvin Zinga from first division club Angers and Paris-born central defender Kévin Mouanga, who plays for Lausanne-Sport in Switzerland.

Surprisingly, 30-year-old left-back Junior Etou, who has not yet played an international match and plays semi-professional football in the USA for the lower-class club Pittsburgh Riverhounds, was also called up to the team.

Defenders Ryan Bidounga, Romaric Etou-Thomaso and Francis Nzaba were recalled, as was Serie A striker Gabriel Charpentier from Parma.

Explaining the move, Ngata said: “The game in Morocco showed me that the emotional burden was too great for some of our younger players. We lacked experience.”

Africa has left us behind since 2015, we have to find it again. The first two games in the qualifying group are always very important and you have to approach them with a lot of energy and willpower. Home games have to be won. That is the first step to success. Then you have to take points from your opponents.”

The squad also includes goalkeeper Christoffer Mafoumbi, who played briefly for Free State Stars in the 2016/17 Premier Soccer League season before moving to Blackpool in England. He currently plays in Malta.

CONGO TROOPS:

Goalkeeper: Christoffer Mafoumbi (Floriana, Malta), Owen-Césaire Matingou (Orleans, France), Pavel Nzila (APR FC, Rwanda), Melvin Zinga (Angers, France)

Defender: Yohan Andzouana (DAC 1904, Slovenia), Ryan Bidounga (CSKA 1948 Sofia, Bulgaria), Junior Etou (Pittsburgh Riverhounds, USA), Romaric Etou-Thomaso (Dila, Georgia), Christ Makosso (RWD Molenbeek, Belgium), Kévin Mouanga ( Lausanne-Sport, Switzerland), Francis Nzaba (Esenler Erokspor, Turkey), Morgan Poaty (Lausanne-Sport, Switzerland), Bryan Passi (Mafra, Portugal)

Midfielder: Fred Dembi (Red Star, France), Junior Etou (Pittsburgh Riverhounds, USA), William Hondermarck (Northampton Town, England), Antoine Makoumbou (Cagliari, Italy), Chandral Massanga (Hatayspor, Turkey), Merveille Ndockyt (HNK Gorica, Croatia), Raviere Otanga (Al Kharitiyath, Qatar)

Forward: Mons Bassouamina (Clermont Foot, France), Archange Bintsouka (Partizani Tirana, Albania), Gabriel Charpentier (Parma), Silvere Ganvoula (Young Boys Berne, Switzerland), Beni Makouana (Polissya, Ukraine), Vieljeux Mboungou (FK TSC Backa Topola, Serbia), Rabby Nzingoula (Racing Strasbourg, France).