Michel-Ange Balikwisha hasn’t yet shown his best at Celtic.
Signed after being pursued for over a year by Brendan Rodgers, Balikwisha was thrown straight in to start at left-wing against Rangers at Ibrox.
He was moved to the other flank for his next appearance against Kilmarnock, and hasn’t started a Celtic game since.
This is despite being signed for over £4 million for an attack in desperate need of some help. He has found himself behind Sebastian Tounekti and Daizen Maeda in the pecking order.
But on the international stage, it’s a different story for the 24-year-old, who had a dream debut for DR Congo on Sunday.
Celtic’s Michel-Ange Balikwisha contributes to DR Congo win
A former Belgian youth international, Balikwisha’s switch to join his brother in the DR Congo set-up was finally approved earlier this week.
They face a long road to qualification due to the new play-off set-up, but they took a huge step towards doing it this week.
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In Africa’s play-offs, four teams were competing for one place in another play-off, which will be contested between six teams from four continents with three tournament spots up for grabs. Read that again if you have to.
DR Congo progressed past Gabon in the semi-final with Balikwisha an unused substitute. This set up a challenging final against World Cup mainstays Nigeria.
Despite falling behind after just three minutes, DRC responded with an equaliser, eventually taking the tie into extra-time.
Balikwisha was introduced for his international debut at the interval of extra-time before the tie entered penalties – the first three spot kicks of the shootout were all missed.
The Hoops man took the tenth penalty of the shootout and impressively dispatched it, before Semi Ajayi’s miss allowed Chancel Mbemba to seal an unlikely win for DR Congo.
The Léopards haven’t appeared on the world stage since their days as Zaire – Many Scotland fans will be familiar with their clash with the Tartan Army in 1974.
But they will now join Bolivia, New Caledonia and three other nations in a six-team shootout for three places at next summer’s tournament.
Celtic players on international duty
Balikwisha wasn’t the only Celtic player celebrating last night.
Liam Scales and Johnny Kenny were part of a sensational night for the Republic of Ireland, which saw them secure an unlikely play-off place away against Hungary with the last kick of the game.
Scales has two assists in two games for the Republic, continuing what is shaping up to be the best season of his career so far.
The drama isn’t over there, though – Kieran Tierney, Anthony Ralston and Kasper Schmeichel will all be involved in a one-game shootout for a place at the tournament at Hampden on Tuesday.
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