Joining History: Why We Aim to Qualify the Congo for the World Cup

Foot Mercato: You had an incredible week receiving the Best Interclub Player award at the 2025 CAF Awards and qualifying for the intercontinental playoffs with your country. Do you realize what you’ve experienced?

Fiston Mayele: Last season was exceptional for me, particularly when we qualified for the Champions League semi-finals and finals. Every weekend, I scored important goals and made key contributions for my club. But the week I just had will forever be etched in my memory. We’ve qualified for the intercontinental playoffs. We played intense matches against Cameroon and Nigeria and emerged victorious. Plus, I received the award for Best Player in Africa. These are dreams that came true. I will never forget this November; it will remain etched in my memory.

“This award is well-deserved, a result of hard work”

Foot Mercato: How did it feel when you received this award?

FM: It was an achievement. Africa has many talented players and strong teams. But what we, at Pyramids, accomplished last season is exceptional. I used to dream of reaching the pinnacle of African football, and today it is my reality. I reflected on my journey, starting from Congo, moving through Tanzania, to finally achieving success in Egypt. I thanked God for this award. It is well-deserved, a result of long, hard work.

Foot Mercato: You were in competition with your teammate Mohamed Chibi; did you think of him?

FM: Yes, I was competing with my teammate, who is like a brother to me, Mohamed Chibi. Since I joined Pyramids, he’s been instrumental in many of my assists. He’s an exceptional player. However, as an attacker who scored many goals, I had a better chance of winning. I mentioned his name in my speech because he deserves recognition for his impactful season with us.

Foot Mercato: You were playing in the Congolese second division at 24 and now at 31, you’re the Best Interclub Player in Africa. How do you explain this rise?

FM: At 24, I was in the Congolese second division and ended up being the league’s top scorer. Following that, I signed with AS Vita Club in Kinshasa, where I discovered the African Champions League. Three years later, I became the top scorer in the CAF competitions with Young Africans in Tanzania. Last season, I emerged as the top scorer in the Champions League. My journey has been remarkable, driven by hard work. It’s not easy to maintain performance by scoring over 15 goals each season. It requires dedication and determination, and I’ve always left my mark wherever I’ve been.

Foot Mercato: After lifting the Champions League title last season, what are your goals now?

FM: My club goal is to replicate our success in the Champions League. We’ve qualified for the group stage; I hope we can reach the final again. Personally, I aim to compete for the top scorer title in the tournament for the second consecutive year.

“I want to explore another league, another continent”

Foot Mercato: Throughout your career, you’ve only played in Africa. Do you want to explore football in another continent?

FM: I’ve always played in Africa, but now I feel the urge to play in another league, on another continent. I’m ready for new challenges; that’s my goal. My contract with Pyramids ends this summer. However, for now, I’m focused on my club, as we have many matches in Egypt, playing every three days. I need to stay concentrated. Additionally, we have the Africa Cup and the intercontinental playoff in March with Congo coming up.

Foot Mercato: The last AFCON saw the Democratic Republic of Congo reach the semi-finals. What are your ambitions for the upcoming tournament in Morocco?

FM: In the last AFCON, we reached the semi-finals before being eliminated by Ivory Coast. It was my first AFCON with Congo and an exceptional experience. No one expected us to reach that stage. Our humility, focus, and simplicity contributed to our success. For the next AFCON in Morocco, we aim to adopt a similar mindset but strive to go even further.

Foot Mercato: You will face Senegal in the group stages of AFCON. Will this match feel like a revenge after the defeat in September?

FM: They came and won against us in Kinshasa, which hurt because it was a crucial match. Personally, I was very affected and it took me a week to recover. I was frustrated to lose, which motivated me to score a hat-trick against the exceptional goalkeeper Edouard Mendy in Saudi Arabia. I believe there is no such thing as revenge in football. This will be a group match, and our focus will be on securing points. It’s not an elimination match, so we’ll treat it as we do all group games.

Foot Mercato: What do you think about the new generation of Congolese players?

FM: We have a strong new generation with players like Ngal’ayel Mukau, Noah Sadiki, Nathanaël Mbuku, and Ange Balikwisha. They are eager to excel and are receiving guidance from the veterans. We ensure they are comfortable and instill confidence in them as they play for top clubs in Europe. It’s our responsibility to mentor them and help them grow.

“Dual nationals are Congolese; this is their country”

Foot Mercato: What’s your view on dual nationals joining the Leopards?

FM: The doors are open for everyone to join. It’s ultimately up to the coach and the federation. Dual nationals are Congolese; it’s their country. Whether they are called up or not depends on the coach’s decisions, but if they want to help their nation, that’s important.

Foot Mercato: What’s the secret behind your success against Nigeria and Cameroon in the playoffs?

FM: Our journey was tough. Since Sébastien Desabre took over, there have been talks about how we can only win against lesser teams, but when it comes to strong teams, we struggle. Our key players played an essential role; Cédric Bakambu delivered an inspiring speech before the two matches, urging us to give our all, whether starting or coming off the bench. Those are the small things that can make a big difference. We managed to beat Cameroon and Nigeria, which was an emotional experience because we all wanted to qualify for the intercontinental playoffs.

Foot Mercato: Are you looking forward to the intercontinental playoff in March?

FM: Absolutely, we are eager to play that match in March. There will be pressure because it’s a must-win situation. It won’t be easy, but we want to make history for our country by qualifying for the World Cup. Personally, playing in the World Cup has always been a dream for me. Our group is united; we share a friendship and communicate even while at our clubs. When you have that kind of harmony, things will go smoother. We’re all excited about the match in March, but first, we have to focus on the upcoming AFCON next month.