The DR Congo Football Federation (Fecofa) confirms it will appeal over the Confederation of African Football (Caf) ruling that Guelor Kanga is eligible to play for Gabon.

On Wednesday Caf dismissed of DR Congo's claims of identity fraud by Kanga, saying "the proof offered by Fecofa was not convincing nor sufficient to establish" identity fraud by Fegafoot.

Fecofa will now launch an appeal, as permitted by the original, with Caf's Appeal Panel.

Gabon, captained by Arsenal star Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, reached next year's Africa Cup of Nations after finishing runners-up in Group D of the qualifiers behind group winners The Gambia.

DR Congo, who finished third, had hoped a ruling against Kanga would see the Panthers lose 10 points and see the Leopards qualify instead.

Kanga, who has 46 caps for Gabon since his debut nine years ago, played for the Panthers in all six of their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, including both games against DR Congo (where Gabon took four points).

Fecofa insist that Kanga, who plays for Serbian club Red Star Belgrade, was born in the Congolese capital Kinshasa in 1985 and submitted paperwork to back up their claims.

In response the Gabon Football Federation (Fegafoot) provided documents to prove that Kanga is eligible to play for Gabon, including a birth certificate for Guelor Kanga Kiaku.

However the disciplinary panel explained it "did not notice any irregularities in the eligibility of the player in question and his registration with Caf.

"Caf's disciplinary panel rejects purely and simply the complaint by Fecofa."

Fecofa now have three days to appeal against this ruling.

BBC