Mateus Fernandes<\/a> might even be a senior Portugal international by then.<\/p>\n A few months ago, while he was still at Southampton, Portugal boss Roberto Martinez said Fernandes was \u2018close\u2019<\/a> to forcing his way into the senior set-up.<\/p>\n And though Aaron Wan-Bissaka<\/a> finally gave up on his England dream \u2013 former DR Congo captain Gabriel Zakuani was \u2018sure\u2019 the Hammers\u2019 reigning Player of the Year would be selected at last by Thomas Tuchel \u2013 the decision to change his international allegiances could prove to be an inspired one.<\/p>\n DR Congo can take one giant stride closer to World Cup qualification if they beat Nigeria on Sunday.<\/p>\n Wan-Bissaka helped Sebastian Desabre\u2019s side break Cameroon hearts last night \u2013 ex-Newcastle defender Chancel Mbemba scored a late winner to bring an end to the hopes Manchester United superstar Bryan Mbeumo \u2013 meaning a nation sitting 60th in the FIFA World Rankings are closer than ever to making history.<\/p>\n Thanks, largely, to the good work of Gabriel Zakuani.<\/p>\n The former Congo captain and one-time Peterborough United defender has made it his mission to convince those eligible for the Leopards to switch their allegiances. The French-born Yoane Wissa has represented DR Congo since 2020, while Wan-Bissaka was joined at the heart of an immense rearguard by Burnley\u2019s Axel Tuanzebe as a Cameroon side packed with talent saw their faint hopes go up in smoke.<\/p>\n \u201c[Wissa] was the hard one,\u201d Zakuani tells BBC Sport<\/a>. \u201c[But] Wan-Bissaka and even Tuanzebe were all very difficult because the players were 50-50 about it. <\/p>\n \u201cThen, I think the key was the parents. You have to visit the parents. The parents would know me from being the captain of the DR Congo, so that makes the conversation a little bit easier.<\/p>\n \u201cThen we just, as Africans are, you\u2019re very friendly and you talk about other things. I went there speaking about Wissa joining and Wan-Bissaka joining and then we ended up half of the conversation was about politics and the president.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a very relaxed situation and in the end, it\u2019s the player\u2019s decision. I think once the parents feel that it\u2019s a good environment for their son, I think it makes the conversation a lot easier when I get to the player.\u201d<\/p>\n Gabriel Zakuani bemused by Thomas Tuchel\u2019s Wan-Bissaka snub<\/p>\n Zakuani admits he was stunned when Thomas Tuchel continued to omit Wan-Bissaka from his England plans. Tottenham\u2019s Djed Spence even earned a call-up recently, while the West Ham fans were left baffled<\/a> when the perma-crocked Reece James was also selected ahead of their 2024\/25 Hammer of the Year.<\/p>\n \u201cI was sure that Wan-Bissaka after last season, because he got West Ham Player of the Year, that he would possibly be in an England squad. And the fact that he wasn\u2019t, I think was the key,\u201d Zakuani adds.<\/p>\n \u201cThe same for Yoane as well. So, I think the fact they didn\u2019t make the squads probably helped my case a lot more.\u201d<\/p>\n Two players reportedly on West Ham\u2019s radar \u2013 Manchester United\u2019s Kobbie Mainoo and Arsenal\u2019s Myles Lewis-Skelly \u2013 were nowhere to be seen as England beat Serbia 2-0 at Wembley on Thursday night.<\/p>\n![\"Aaron](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2229267382-1024x606.jpg\")
Photo by Richard Pelham\/Getty ImagesWest Ham United\u2019s Aaron Wan-Bissaka edges closer to World Cup dream with DR Congo<\/p>\n