Fifa warn Congo over French pair

Bassila failed to meet Fifa's deadline

Football governing body Fifa has told Congo they cannot use two former French under-21 internationals in a Nations Cup qualifier against South Africa on Saturday.

Christian Bassila and Matt Moussilou were drafted by new Congo coach Noel Tosi for the Group 11 match.

But Bassila, with Greek club Larissa and Moussilou, who signed for Nice from Lille, cannot play because they did not apply to Fifa for a change of nationality within the prescribed period.

Both were born in Paris to Congolese parents but should have applied for the change in their national status before 31 December 2005.

Fifa spokesman Andreas Herren said Congo have been warned against using the pair.

But they have made no ruling about fullback Moke Kajima, who has been invited to play for the Congolese, despite hailing from neighbouring DR Congo.

Without an international cap at the age of 32, Kajima was suggested to Tosi by Congo's first choice goalkeeper Barel Mouko, who is his former club mate at French Ligue Two club Dijon.

Fifa rules say players cannot take up the nationality of a country unless they can prove some family connection or have resided in the country for an unbroken period of at least two years.

Tosi, who comes from France, was widely criticised for similar behaviour in 2003.

As coach of Mauritania at the start of the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, he persuaded authorities to issue passports to four players from his former French club Creteil in a preliminary round qualifying tie against Zimbabwe.

The quartet of French nationals were flown in for both legs of the qualifying tie, which Mauritania lost on aggregate. But no sanctions were imposed.