Nonda will partner Musasa up front

The Simbas captain is expected to play his first game for his country this year when DR Congo host Swaziland in Kinshasa on 8 June.

But the Congolese will be without another of their inspirational players, with Lomana LuaLua serving the last of a two match suspension after being sent off against Botswana last October.

The match is a must-win for the Congolese, who have stuttered in the opening games in group nine with defeat in Libya and a draw in Swaziland in March.

The Simbas are still expected to finish top of their group, but must first overcome return matches against Libya on 22 June and Botswana in early July,

Nonda is likely to partner the South African-based striker Kabamba Musasa up front in the absence of LuaLua.

Defender Eugene Kangulungu from third division Louhans-Cuiseaux in France and Herita Nkongolo Ilunga who is the only Congolese to play in La Liga in Spain have received their first international call ups.

The preliminary squad of 31 includes just five players who competed at the last Nations Cup finals in Mali just over a year ago.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Muteba Kidiaba (TP Mazembe Englebert), Muana Kizamba (Daring Club Motema Pembe), Mbo Lokwa (St Francois), Paulin Tokala (InterClube, Angola)
Defenders: Abengeya (AS Vita Club), Dikilu Bageta (TP Mazembe Englebert), Biabu Biku (Daring Club Motema Pembe), Herita Nkongolo Ilunga (Espanyol, Spain), Eugene Kangulungu (Louhans-Cuiseaux, France), Mpetyn Kuzulu (Olympique Club Kinshasa), Michel Mazingu-Dinzey (Eintracht Braunschweig, Germany), Kitambala Mubiala (AS Vita Club), Felix Musasa Mwamba (TP Mazembe Englebert)
Midfielders: Jean-Paul Kamudimba (Nice, France), Tresor Luntala (Guingamp, France), Zola Matumona (FC St Eloi Lupopo), Sumbu Mazowa (AS Vita Club), Kanku Mulekelay (TP Mazembe Englebert), Ntoto Muziete (Daring Club Motema Pembe), Mbomboko Ngoy (TP Mazembe Englebert), Marlin Piana (Otelul Galati, Romania), Tshinyala Tshiolola (TP Mazembe Englebert)
Strikers: Mujanayi Katalayi (FC St Eloi Lupopo), Alain Masudi (Sturm Graz, Austria), Lakuyu Mbala (Daring Club Motema Pembe), Robert Nimuba Mpeti (Inter), Kabamba Musasa (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), Shabani Nonda (Monaco, France), Zico Tumba (NEC Nijmegen, Netherlands), Gemi Tutuana (AS Vita Club), Ngidi Yemweni (TP Mazembe Englebert)