Congo striker Thievy Bifouma (Reuters)
Congo coach Pierre Lechantre has announced a 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup home qualifier against Egypt.
Congo will host the Pharaohs in Group E opener on Sunday, with both sides keen to get their qualifying campaign off to a winning start.
The roster included eight foreign-based players, including key stars Thievy Bifouma, who plays as a striker for France's Bastia, Wydad Casablanca's midfielder Fabrice Nguessi Ondama and Club Bizertin's striker Prince Vini Ibara.
In June, World-Cup-hungry Egypt were drawn alongside Ghana, Congo and Uganda. Their main challengers are Ghana, who inflicted a painful 7-3 aggregate defeat on the Pharaohs in a qualifying playoff for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The seven-time African champions made only two World Cup appearances, both in Italy in 1934 and 1990.
Congo's full squad:
Goalkeepers: Wolfrigon Mongondza (Diables Noirs), Pavelh Ndzila (Etoile du Congo), Gildas Mouyabi (La Mancha).
Defenders: Boris Moubhio (AC Léopards de Dolisie), Carof Bakoua (AC Léopards de Dolisie), Gloire Yila Dibata (Léopards de Dolisie), Imouélé Ngampio (JST), Beranger Itoua (Cara), Saboukoulou (Patronage Sainte-Anne), Guy Ndanga (JSP), Baudry Marvin (Zulte Waregem, Belgium).
Midfielders: Dua Stanislas Ankira (AC Léopards de Dolisie), Kessel Tsiba Moukassa (Diables Noirs), Cedrick Olongo (BNG), Alexandre Obambo (AS Cheminots), Jordan Massengo (Union Saint Gilloise, Belgium), Fabrice Nguessi Ondama (Wydad Casablanca, Morocco).
Strikers: Ismael Ankobo (AS Kondzo), Delarge Dzon (Osmanlisport, Turkey), Doré Ferebory (SCO Angers, France), Thievy Bifouma (Bastia, France), Prince Vini Ibara (Club Bizertin, Tunisia), Sylvère Ganvoula Mboussy (Waterloo, Belgium).
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