Axel Tuanzebe: Former Manchester United Defender Joins DR Congo Squad Ahead of World Cup Qualifiers

• Ipswich Town defender and former Manchester United centre-back, Axel Tuanzebe, has begun his international career with DR Congo
• The ex-England youth international decided to play for the Leopards after failing to make a senior appearance for the Three Lions
• Tuanzebe is in line to make his debut for DR Congo in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Senegal on Thursday in Dakar

Former England youth international, Axel Tuanzebe, has joined the national team of the Democratic Republic of Congo ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Africa this month.

The 26-year-old decided to switch nationalities to represent the country of his birth in March and was handed his first invite in May as the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finalists prepare for their games in June.

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The Leopards will face former African champions Senegal on Thursday, June 6, in Dakar before taking on Togo three days later in Kinshasa.

In photos shared on social media, the former Manchester United centre-back joined his new national team teammates as they trained for the matches with coach Sebastien Dasabre leading the players.

The lanky defender could make his debut against Senegal as he is expected to partner captain and Olympique Marseille star Chancel Mbemba at the heart of defence.

Born in DR Congo, Tuanzebe left for England at a very young age, where he began his football career. He played for Manchester United, Aston Villa and Stoke City in England.

He was part of the Ipswich team that gained promotion to the English Premier League after playing a pivotal role in the campaign, following his move to the club in September 2023. Tuanzebe made 18 league appearances for the club in the 2023/24 season, per Transfermarkt.

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Meanwhile, the Congolese Football Federation has also begun the process of convincing Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bisaaka to switch nationalities and represent the country of his parents.

Tuanzebe switches nationality from England to DR Congo

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Axel Tuanzebe switched allegiance from England to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) early this year.

The Ipswich Town defender, whose ancestral roots can be traced back to Bunia in the DRC, made this choice after his aspirations of representing England were no longer viable.

Tuanzebe, who has experienced a nomadic spell in recent years, featuring for clubs such as Napoli, Aston Villa, and Stoke City, has now embraced the opportunity to play under coach, Sebastien Desabre, for the Central African nation.