Kinshasa, September 6th, 2026 (CPA). –The goalkeeper for the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lionel Mpasi, victim on Saturday of an injury in the dying moments of the Le Havre v Brest match (1–2) in League 1, could be temporarily side-lined from the pitch according to initial assessments by his club, consulted on Sunday by CPA.
“The initial diagnosis raises fears of a ruptured Achilles tendon. Lionel Mpasi is due to undergo further tests to determine the exact nature of his injury,” it is read. The Congolese international, who has been at the top of his game since the start of this season and put in a superb performance against Brest – despite conceding a first goal from a penalty and a second following a numerical disadvantage on the pitch – had to dig deep to save Le Havre from a third goal in stoppage time (90+1), before collapsing to the ground.
Lionel Mpasi has then received extensive treatment before being carried off the pitch on a stretcher. When questioned by the international media after the match, his manager, Didier Digard, made no secret of his concern: “Unfortunately, it doesn’t look good. He’s likely to be out for quite some time,” he has declared. At this stage, no Achilles tendon rupture can therefore be considered medically confirmed, nor can a precise duration of his absence be given. The final verdict will depend on the medical tests due to be carried out in the coming hours. This is a major blow for Le Havre and the Leopards, who are due to assemble in two weeks’ time for the start of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.