Sebastien Desabre says there is “no reason not to select” Fiston Mayele for DR Congo simply because the striker has moved to Libya, despite the drop in sporting status between his former and new clubs.
Mayele left Egyptian side Pyramids FC during the current transfer window to join Al-Ahli Tripoli on a two-year contract. The 32-year-old is expected to earn €8.57m over the length of the deal, excluding bonuses and other benefits.
The move makes Mayele the highest-paid player currently based in Africa, with his salary comparable to those available at leading European clubs.
Desabre, the French manager of the Leopards, told Afrik-Foot that he understood the striker’s decision. Mayele had kept the national-team coach regularly informed about his discussions with the Libyan club.
In sporting terms, Mayele has moved from one of the strongest leagues in Africa to a less highly regarded competition. Egyptian football is widely considered, alongside South Africa’s domestic game, to be among the best on the continent.
Mayele had just helped Pyramids FC win the 2025-26 CAF Champions League and also scored for DR Congo in a 3-1 World Cup victory over Uzbekistan. He had become a key international after making his debut for the Leopards in 2023.
Before joining Pyramids FC, Mayele built his reputation at AS Vita Club and particularly at Tanzanian club Young Africans. His performances there helped establish him as one of the continent’s prominent forwards.
Desabre stressed that the financial aspect of the transfer was also understandable, given Mayele’s career history. The striker had earned a good salary in Egypt but had spent much of his career on more modest wages.
Mayele had reportedly turned down an offer from Cairo giants Al-Ahly, who were prepared to pay him €2.57m per year on a two-year contract. His decision to wait for another proposal has proved financially rewarding, with his agreement at Al-Ahli Tripoli offering a figure similar to salaries earned by players at major European clubs.
The change of club will not, however, guarantee Mayele a place in the DR Congo team.
Desabre said the striker would be judged in the same way as every other international player, with his form at club level and competition for places both taken into account. But he added that playing in Libya alone would not be a reason to exclude him from selection.
Mayele is therefore expected to be included in the squad for DR Congo’s two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches in September. The Leopards are due to face Equatorial Guinea in Kinshasa before playing Zimbabwe.
By then, Mayele should have made his first appearances for Al-Ahli Tripoli in the Libyan Premier League. He is also expected to feature in the CAF Confederation Cup, with Al-Ahli scheduled to face KMKM, a club from Zanzibar, in the first leg of the first qualifying round on Saturday.
The move gives Mayele a significant financial boost while leaving his international future intact, provided he continues to perform and successfully competes for his place in the DR Congo squad.