Pelly gets first international call-up for Democratic Republic of the Congo

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu is congratulated by manager Nathan Jones after Luton beat arch-rivals Watford. Photo by Liam Smith

Luton midfielder Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu has earned his first international call-up to the 32-man squad for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

🐆 32 Léopards pré-convoqués pour le stage en Tunisie !

Cette liste très “locale” été concoctée par Daouda Lupembe, nouvel adjoint d’Hector Cúper. On y note l’arrivée du binational Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town), mais également plusieurs absences. Nous y reviendrons… pic.twitter.com/3Np1ozzHMh
— LEOPARDSFOOT (@leopardsfoot) May 15, 2021

The Hatters’ current longest serving player will join the Leopards for the first time next month for their camp in Tunisia, where they will have two friendly matches against the Cartage Eagles of Tunisia and the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde.

Mpanzu, 27, who is two appearances shy of his 300th appearance, has been in the Congo squad with Everton winger Yannick Bolasie, who was on loan at Middlesbrough last season.

Argentine coach Hector Cuper, who managed Valencia, Mallorca, Real Betis, Parma, Inter Milan and the Egypt national team to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, was appointed to lead the Leopards last week, after they failed to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

Cuper will be aiming to help the DR Congo qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and they are in a qualifying group alongside Benin, Madagascar and Tanzania, who they will face first on September 1.