Scores Rennes en direct
23 September 2011 | à 10h30

International : Congo wants Kembo

International : Congo wants Kembo

A Former member of the French U21 national team, Jirès Kembo appeared Wednesday on a list of players pre-called by the Democratic Republic of Congo for a 2012 African Nations Cup qualification match against Cameroon.

Recently named as national coach, Claude Le Roy expressed his wish to involve players with dual nationality (with both French and Congolese nationalities or with Congolese origins) in order to reinforce the « Leopards » of Congo, just as Senegal has been doing over the last few years.
Born in Kinshasa, Jirès Kembo is the son of a former Congolese international player (Zaïrese international at this time, more exactly), Jean Kembo, who played the 1974 World Cup. Having left for France in his childhood, he only obtained the French nationality in spring 2008, at the age of twenty.

It remains to know what the decision of Jirès Kembo will be, since he stated in November 2010 that he wished to take time to make up his mind concerning a prospective call-up with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Many players born and playing in France have been have also been shortlisted by Le Roy, such as former Rennais Arnold Mvuemba, born in Normandy and former member of the U21 France team, or U20 international Gaël Kakuta (Chelsea).
If Kembo accepts the national coach’s call, he wouldn’t be unavailable for Stade Rennes next January, since Democratic Republic of Congo has already been eliminated of the 2012 ANC.