FIFA clears 2 recruits for Congo to play in African qualifying playoffs
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.