The Democratic Republic of Congo will have to do without Rocky Bushiri for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.

The central defender, injured last weekend during the Scottish Premiership match between Hibernian FC and Motherwell FC, has officially withdrawn from the squad.

To replace the Belgian-trained player, the Leopards' coach, Sébastien Desabre, has called up Aaron Tshibola, a midfielder who plays for Kilmarnock FC. The announcement was confirmed this Wednesday by the Congolese Football Federation, just weeks before the start of the 2026 World Cup.

This last-minute change could force the Congolese coaching staff to reorganize their defensive balance, while Tshibola's arrival offers more options in midfield and adds physical presence to the midfield.

Aaron Tshibola is a Democratic Republic of Congo international midfielder, born on January 2, 1995, in London, England. He currently plays for Kilmarnock FC in the Scottish Premiership. A product of the Reading FC youth academy, he has since played for several European clubs, including Aston Villa FC, Nottingham Forest FC, and Kilmarnock during previous stints in Scotland.

A defensive midfielder by trade, Tshibola is known for his physical presence, ball-winning ability, and capacity to stabilize the midfield.

He has made several appearances for the Congolese national team since his international debut in 2018. In 2026, he returned to Kilmarnock after a spell in Greece, a move officially announced by the Scottish club in early February.

• Club : Kilmarnock FC (Ecosse)
• Height : 1.90 m
• Professional Period : 2014
• Position : Midfielder
• Strong foot : Right foot
• National team selections : Since 2018
• Matches : 16