Recalled by Sunderland, striker Jules Ahoka has left the DR Congo U23 camp ahead of the return match in Nigeria, where unpaid bonuses could lead the Congolese players to boycott the game.
The DR Congo U23 camp has lost an attacking option. Jules Ahoka, the Sunderland striker, has left the Congolese squad and returned to England, according to the youth team’s manager José Ntumba, quoted by Africa Top Sports. The English club demanded its player back for the league match against Aston Villa, scheduled for 21 November.
The departure comes four days before the return leg. DR Congo must travel to Ikenne, in Ogun State, to face Nigeria on Tuesday 17 November 2026 in the second round of Olympic qualifying for Canada 2028. In the first leg, the Congolese won 2-0 in Lubumbashi.
Sunderland get their striker back
Ahoka’s departure is not a simple last-minute absence. According to Savidnews, the striker had already refused to train for financial reasons before the first leg. His return to England is therefore part of a tense financial situation surrounding the players.
For DR Congo, the departure deprives the staff of an attacking option, and they will have to do without him. Sunderland, for their part, are expecting their player for the league match against Aston Villa.
Unpaid bonuses in the background
The financial issue dominates preparations for the return leg. The Congolese players are reportedly considering boycotting Tuesday’s match because of bonuses unpaid by the state, according to BSNSports.com.ng, as reported by New Telegraph and Savidnews. The claim is not confirmed at this stage, with no official source having validated it.
Neither the Congolese federation nor CAF have officially confirmed a withdrawal or disqualification of DR Congo, New Telegraph specifies. The scenario of a Congolese withdrawal is therefore circulating, without resting on any decided outcome.
Nigeria wait, Yohanna out
On the pitch, Nigeria know what they have to do if the match goes ahead: score at least three goals without conceding to overturn the tie, according to Savidnews.
Nigeria’s Zadok Yohanna, the Brighton winger, has himself been ruled out of the return leg after getting injured in the first match, New Telegraph reports. The game, set for the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, remains conditional on the Congolese making the trip.