Michel-Ange Balikwisha knew he was within a shout of competing at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Celtic summer signing recently switched his allegiance to represent DR Congo and helped them move one step closer to qualifying the 2026 World Cup.
Balikwisha made his debut against Cameroon, and will now be given the chance to compete in Africa’s biggest tournament.
- READ MORE: Only one Celtic player has ever won the Africa Cup of Nations while playing for the Hoops
Michel-Ange Balikwisha named in DR Congo’s AFCON squad
As time ticks down until the beginning of AFCON, teams are beginning to announce their squads for the competition in Morocco.
DR Congo are the latest nation to unveil their 26-man squad, which includes Balikwisha.
Can AFCON be where Michel-Ange Balikwisha finally hits some form?
He isn’t the only Scottish representative, with Rocky Buishiri of Hibernian being named too, days after Celtic beat Hibs 2-1.
This will be the Celtic winger’s first major international tournament, and maybe a chance to really kick on after a difficult start to life in Glasgow.
Who else could be going to AFCON?
We are still waiting to get every nation’s squad list, but there are two other Celtic stars who could be jetting off to Morocco between December and January.
Fellow summer signings Sebastian Tounekti and Kelechi Iheanacho (Tunisia and Nigeria) also have a chance of going to the tournament.
Tounekti is the more likely of the two having featured in the past two Tunisia squads but Iheanacho may miss out for the Super Eagles.
A mix of injury and extended time out of the national team set-up have pushed the Hoops forward further down the pecking order and hindered his chances.
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