As Nigeria battles DR Congo’s Leopards tomorrow in the final Africa playoff of 2026 World Cup, it could be a mistake to assume the victors over Cameroun are pushovers.
The Leopards boast an array of stars who ply their craft in Europe’s top leagues and will be expected by their countrymen to put in a massive shift to undo seeming favourites, the Super Eagles.
Their squad has big-name stars who can humiliate any opponent on a good day. They include:
*Cédric Bakambu, a forward who plays for Real Betis in La Liga. He is an experienced goalscorer and a key figure in the attack.
*Chancel Mbemba, 31, the destroyer of Lions of Cameroun last Thursday. Mbemba, who plays for LOSC Lille in Ligue 1, is a strong, experienced defender and a crucial cog of their backline.
*Arthur Masuaku, 32, the strong man of Sunderland in the English Premiership. He is a no-nonsense defender renowned for his defensive capabilities and ability to support the attack from the back.
*Aaron Wan-Bissaka: Ex-Manchester Utd, he is a defender currently with West Ham Utd, another English Premiership side. The 27-year-old has significant Premiership experience and is known for his sweeping defensive skills.
*Meschack Elia, 28: A pacy and physical forward who poses a threat to defences, he plies his trade with Turkish SuperLig side Alanyaspor.
*Ngal’ayel Mukau: A 21-year-old midfielder with Lille, the youngster is a highly-valued defensive midfielder with significant potential.
*Samuel Essende, 27, earns his pay as a forward with German Bundesliga side FC Augsburg. Essende is a strong centre-forward option in the squad.
The Super Eagles, who possess an equally strong squad of seasoned battlers, will do well to understand that the Leopards have a tested defence that, on paper appears impenetrable, but must be bulldozed to outscore the opponent,if Nigeria must play in the final, intercontinental playoff billed for March, 2026 and possibly proceed to the June-July mundial being hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Wan-Bissaka.
