Michel-Ange Balikwisha has been left out of DR Congo’s World Cup squad.
That’s despite confirming his change of allegiance earlier this season, having previously been a youth international for Belgium.
Despite being brought to Glasgow for the notable fee of £4.5 million on a five-year deal last summer, Balikwisha found himself almost immediately frozen out.
Has been restricted to just three starts and has not appeared since January, resulting in his omission from the squad for this summer’s tournament.
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Michel-Ange Balikwisha’s Celtic absence leads to World Cup omission
Balikwisha scored one of DR Congo’s four penalties in the shootout against Nigeria which booked their place in the tournament last summer.
He was also part of their squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in the winter, appearing in all but one of their games.
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Manager Sebastien Desabre played a part in the winger’s decision to switch internationally, but he has ultimately had his stance changed by a lack of game time at Celtic.
Among those included in his absence are Hibs man Rocky Bushiri and £50 million Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa.
Balikwisha was chased by Celtic for over a year, with the club having decided against signing him in 2024 due to a poorly-timed injury.
It was widely reported that the 24-year-old was a key target for the club last summer, but the move wasn’t completed until the final week of the transfer window, after the Hoops’ disastrous Champions League qualifying exit.
He was thrown straight in to start at Ibrox by Brendan Rodgers, playing 65 minutes in a goalless draw. This remains one of just three starts he has made for the club.
The move has reflected well on no one. Rodgers looks daft for not using such a key target, it’s another black mark on Paul Tisdale’s tenure, and Balikwisha has looked desperately poor on the rare occasions when he has been involved on the pitch.
The last of those was against sixth-tier Auchinleck Talbot in the Scottish Cup, before which Martin O’Neill discussed his situation.
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Martin O’Neill on Celtic’s Michel-Ange Balikwisha
The Hoops boss said of the forward: “It must be difficult for him to come in at the time he did and not be getting starts.
“I thought Wilfried Nancy might have played him, but that’s everyone to their own. But we spent some money on Michel-Ange, it’s up to him now to try to do it.
“He hasn’t complained. He hasn’t done any of those particular things. Now there is an opportunity for him.
“He wasn’t in the squad for the game the other night, but he’ll participate on Sunday and give me an idea.
“I know it’s on the plastic surface, but even so it gives me an opportunity to have a look.”
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