Michel-Ange Balikwisha blames Celtic for World Cup omission

Michel-Ange Balikwisha, a winger currently on loan at KAA Gent, has blamed Celtic for his omission from the DR Congo squad for the 2026 World Cup. The 25-year-old claims his lack of playing time at the Scottish club following his return from the African Cup of Nations was the primary reason for his exclusion.

Balikwisha stated that Celtic rejected a three-month loan offer from an unnamed MLS side earlier this year, a decision he believes directly impacted his international prospects. He noted that after returning from AFCON, the club faced instability following the departure of manager Wilfried Nancy, which led to him being sidelined.

After struggling during his initial tenure at Celtic, where he failed to score in 14 appearances, Balikwisha has found form at Gent, recently scoring his first goal for the Belgian side. He suggested that if he performs well, Gent could potentially resell him for between £15 million and £20 million.