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Dieumerci Mbokani, under the jersey of DR Congo, on January 28, 2013, in Durban, during the CAN 2013. AFP PHOTO / FRANCISCO LEONG

Congolese Dieumerci Mbokani has not finished with his national team. The man who announced his international retirement in the wake of the 2017 African Cup of Nations in Gabon will finally be with the Leopards for the decisive match against Liberia on March 24 as part of the 6th day of the CAN qualifiers.

At 33, the striker of the Royal Antwep - club which points to the 4th place of the Belgian championship - has scored 7 goals since the start of the season. And the coach Florent Ibenge relies on the former Dinamo Kiev player who has regained his best level since he made his return to Jupiler Pro League.

A great player for Florent Ibenge

Dieumerci Mbokani was already 27 years old when he took part in his first African Cup of Nations in South Africa in 2013 where he scored two goals. " I have two goals: to be among the best African players and to go all the way to the finals, " said RFI, who had piled up the performances for Almighty Mazembe in 2005 and 2006. Then in Europe, with passages in Anderlecht (2006-2007) and Standard de Liège (2007-2010) before experiencing a complicated period at AS Monaco.

In 2015 in Equatorial Guinea, Dieumerci Mbokani scored twice against Congo-Brazzaville, and participated in the DRC's qualification for the semi-finals. " That's football. I was very criticized and I scored two goals. But I worked all week. Against the Congo, it was a decisive match and I did my job. I am proud, I am happy. I am an attacker, "he said after the meeting at the microphone of RFI.

" This guy does a lot for the team and many people do not realize it. He has been much criticized in the country, he shows once again that he is a great player, "commented Florent Ibenge. If the DRC wins 4-2, we remember that it was conducted 2-0 before its double. With three goals in the tournament, he is among the top scorers, including Ghana's Andre Ayew and Tunisian Ahmed Akaichi.

Present at the 2017 CAN held in Gabon, Dieumerci Mbokani - dumb in front of the goal - and the Leopards are eliminated from the competition in the quarterfinals by Ghana (2-1). After announcing that he would no longer wear the jersey of the DRC, here he is back. In the case of a qualification, Mbokani could participate in his fourth CAN in Egypt next summer.