Jorthy Mokio has made his first unofficial appearance for DR Congo after coming on as a substitute in Friday’s 2-0 defeat by Uganda in Johannesburg.
The 18-year-old Ajax midfielder started the match on the bench before being introduced after half-time by the national team manager. His appearance moves him closer to making his official debut for DR Congo, although he will have to wait before that can happen.
Mokio made his final decision to represent DR Congo earlier this year, having previously played in an official international match for Belgium. Under FIFA’s rules governing a change of sporting nationality, he cannot play an official fixture for his new country until 2028.
The friendly against Uganda provided a way for Mokio to gain minutes with DR Congo without breaching those regulations. It also gave him the opportunity to begin adapting to his new role within the national team.
By the time he entered the game, the Leopards were already two goals behind. Uganda took the lead after only seven minutes when Bogere found the net, while Kelvin Boateng doubled their advantage shortly after the interval.
DR Congo were unable to find a response before the final whistle, meaning Mokio’s first appearance for the national side ended in defeat.