I believe it can be said that DR Congo are having a bit of a party. This is because they are withholding their players after the international break. This prolonged withholdment has led to complaints from the domestic clubs.
Also Read: Mourning & Rejoicing
DR Congo's historic qualification for the 2026 World Cup has sparked a dispute with European clubs after players returned late from extended national celebrations.
DR Congo's qualification for the 2026 World Cup has ignited a significant dispute between the nation's football federation and European clubs; who have filed complaints with FIFA after their players failed to return on time from international duty.
West Ham were left reeling after their FA Cup campaign came to an end at the quarter-final stage, suffering a penalty shootout defeat to Leeds United in a tightly contested encounter.
In the aftermath of the result, attention quickly turned to the absence of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, with the London club believed to be frustrated that the defender was unavailable for what was considered a decisive fixture.
According to The Athletic via Foot-Africa, there is a strong feeling within the club that his presence could've influenced the outcome of the match.
That frustration has now escalated into formal action. Wan-Bissaka had been away on international duty with DR Congo, playing a role in what has been described as a historic achievement for the Central African nation.
The Leopards secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after overcoming Jamaica in the play-offs, sparking widespread celebrations across the country.
However, it was those very celebrations that is understood to have now become the source of controversy.
Following their qualification, Congolese authorities reportedly extended festivities beyond the official FIFA international window, organising a series of events to mark the achievement.
Among them was an official reception hosted by President Felix Tshisekedi, as the nation celebrated its return to the global stage. While the celebrations were significant for the country, they came at a cost for the players' clubs.
The extended schedule meant that several players, including Wan-Bissaka, were unable to return to their respective clubs in time. In West Ham’s case, the delay proved particularly damaging, ruling the defender out of their crucial FA Cup clash against Leeds.
According to reports, the club had attempted to mitigate the situation by arranging a special flight to bring Wan-Bissaka back to England as quickly as possible.
However, the plan ultimately fell short, with the player still arriving too late to be considered for selection.
The fallout has since intensified, with West Ham said to have taken the step of lodging a formal complaint with FIFA against both the player and the Congolese football authorities.
The day after the Leopards’ historic victory was declared a national holiday but the celebrations didn't stop there. President Felix Tshisekedi ordered the entire squad to remain in the country for a series of lavish events.
The players were awarded the title of Knights of the National Order at the People's Palace, followed by a reception with the president.
According to reports from L'Equipe, each player also received a €1 million bonus, a new Jeep and a plot of land in the capital, Kinshasa.
The team was paraded through the streets of the capital on a decorated bus, greeted by massive crowds and the famous AFCON superfan known as "Lumumba." The scale of the festivities angered European clubs, who were left without key players for crucial league fixtures.
Lille president, Olivier Letang, confirmed his club had lodged a complaint with FIFA's disciplinary committee after defender, Chancel Mbemba and midfielder, Ngal'ayel Mukau, missed the derby against Lens.
"The players were supposed to arrive in Lille late Thursday evening," Letang stated as quoted by the Tribuna. "This creates a dangerous precedent for all clubs that pay their players' salaries. The governing bodies are very sensitive to this and have already sent a letter to the Congolese federation."
Several other clubs were similarly affected. Espanyol coach, Manolo Gonzalez, expressed his frustration over the absence of Charles Pickel. "This is an unusual situation, and we will take appropriate measures. I have never encountered anything like this before," he said.
During a press conference held by González ahead of the La Liga clash with Real Betis, he explained that his team faces a difficult situation due to the absence of midfielder Charles Bikel; after the Congolese Football Association refused to allow him to return to the club.
The Spanish coach said: "We have received official notification from the Congolese Football Federation confirming that international players are not permitted to leave the country at present, for reasons relating to internal restrictions. The decision does not concern Bekele alone, but applies to all national team players."
González added that the situation is "completely unprecedented" for the Catalan club, noting that the management has already begun communicating with the Congolese Football Federation and FIFA to resolve the crisis and take the necessary legal action.
Espanyol are hoping to put an end to the run of poor results that has plagued them since the start of 2026, as they currently sit eleventh in the La Liga table with 37 points; whilst Real Betis are fifth with 44 points.
The manager concluded by emphasising that the club "has taken all the necessary official steps" and is awaiting a response from the relevant authorities to resolve this matter; which he described as "beyond our control."
Real Betis were without forward, Cedric Bakambu, while Elche missed midfielder, Grady Diangana. In England, Newcastle United, Burnley and West Ham were left waiting for Yoane Wissa, Axel Tuanzebe, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, respectively. Anderlecht's Mario Stroeykens also returned late, just before a key play-off match.
While the clubs fumed, local reports suggested the players were aware of the extravagant gifts and chose to stay to receive them personally, further complicating the standoff.
To me, DR Congo went way overboard with their celebrations. The players should've been released on time. The clubs are right to complain. These kinds of celebrations could've happened in Late May/early June when the domestic leagues are coming to a close.