DR Congo national football team explained

DR Congo
Badge:Congo DR FA.png
Badge Size:160px
Fifa Trigramme:COD
Nickname:Les Léopards
English: The Leopards
Association:Fédération Congolaise de Football-Association (FECOFA)
Sub-Confederation:UNIFFAC (Central Africa)
Confederation:CAF (Africa)
Coach:Sébastien Desabre
Captain:Chancel Mbemba
Most Caps:Chancel Mbemba (85)
Top Scorer:Dieumerci Mbokani (22)
Home Stadium:Stade des Martyrs
Fifa Max:28
Fifa Max Date:July–August 2017
Fifa Min:133
Fifa Min Date:October 2011
Elo Max:20
Elo Max Date:March 1974
Elo Min:111
Elo Min Date:September 2010
Largest Win: 10–1
(Kinshasa, Congo DR; 22 November 1969)
Largest Loss: 9–0
(Gelsenkirchen, West Germany; 18 June 1974)
World Cup Apps:1
World Cup First:1974
World Cup Best:Group stage (1974)
Regional Name:Africa Cup of Nations
Regional Cup Apps:20
Regional Cup First:1965
Regional Cup Best:Champions (1968, 1974)
2Ndregional Name:African Nations Championship
2Ndregional Cup Apps:5
2Ndregional Cup First:2009
2Ndregional Cup Best:Champions, (2009, 2016)
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4Thregional Cup Apps:1
4Thregional Name:COSAFA Cup
4Thregional Cup First:2016
4Thregional Cup Best:Fourth place (2016)

The DR Congo national football team (French: Équipe nationale de football de la République démocratique du Congo), recognised by FIFA as Congo DR, represents the Democratic Republic of the Congo in men's international football and it is controlled by the Congolese Association Football Federation. They are nicknamed Les Léopards, meaning The Leopards.[1] The team is a member of FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Congo DR have been ranked as high as 28th in the FIFA Rankings, as Zaire they were the first Sub-Saharan African team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup and twice won the Africa Cup of Nations. They are also one of the most successful teams in the African Nations Championship with 2 titles, along with Morocco. They are currently ranked 63rd in the FIFA Rankings.[2]

History

Early history

The Congolese Association Football Federation was founded in 1919 when the country was not independent. The team played their first game in 1948 as Belgian Congo against Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia. The team recorded a 3–2 victory at home. DR Congo has been FIFA affiliated since 1962 and has been a member of CAF since 1963. The team's first official match was on 11 April 1963, against Mauritania in the L'Amitié Tournament played in Dakar, Senegal. DR Congo won the match 6–0.[3] The national team appeared in the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 1965.

Glory period

The Democratic Republic of the Congo had its first international success at the 1968 African Cup of Nations held in Ethiopia, beating Ghana 1–0 in the final. The team's biggest ever win came on 22 November 1969 when they recorded a 10–1 home victory against Zambia. Although a handful of Congolese players were playing in Europe (particularly Belgium) during these years, foreign-based players were seldom recalled for international duty; a rare exception was Julien Kialunda who represented Zaire (as the country was by then known) at the 1972 African Cup of Nations while playing for Anderlecht.

The second continental title came at the 1974 African Cup of Nations in Egypt. The Leopards recorded a 2–1 victory against Guinea, another 2–1 victory against rivals Congo and a 4–1 victory against Mauritius. These results carried Zaire through to the semi-finals where they beat hosts Egypt 3–2. In the final, Zaire drew with Zambia 2–2. Therefore, the match was replayed two days later, where Zaire won the game 2–0. Zaire player Ndaye Mulamba was top scorer with nine goals, which remains a record for the tournament. After this, the team returned to Zaire on the Presidential plane, lent to them by Mobutu Sese Seko.

Zaire were the first Sub-Saharan African team to participate in a World Cup, qualifying for the 1974 tournament in place of the 1970 participant Morocco, whom they defeated in the decisive qualifier 3–0 in Kinshasa.[4] Such was the desire to foster an identity of Zaire as a global player that Mobutu paid for advertising hoardings at the World Cup to display messages such as ‘Zaire-Peace’ and ‘Go to Zaire’.[5] At the tournament itself, Zaire did not manage to score any goals and lost all of its games, but gave credible performances against Scotland and Brazil. However, their 9–0 loss against Yugoslavia remains one of the worst World Cup defeats. A bizarre moment came in the match versus Brazil; facing a free-kick 25 yards out, defender Mwepu Ilunga, upon hearing the referee blow his whistle, ran out of the Zaire wall and kicked the ball upfield, for which he received a yellow card. This was voted the 17th greatest World Cup moment in a Channel 4 poll.[6] Ilunga has stated that he was quite aware of the rules and was hoping to convince the referee to send him off. The intended red card would have been a protest against his country's authorities, who were alleged to be depriving the players of their earnings.[7] Many contemporary commentators instead held it to be an example of African football's "naïvety and indiscipline".[8]

Crisis period

After winning the 1974 African Cup of Nations and participating in the 1974 World Cup, the team was eliminated in the first round of the 1976 African Cup of Nations after recording a draw and two losses in the group stage. Morocco went on to win the tournament. From 1978 to 1986, the country did not qualify for the African Cup of Nations, while not participating in qualification for the 1978 World Cup and 1986 World Cup. In the 1988 African Cup of Nations, Zaire finished last in their group despite having two draws.

Return to success

From 1992 to 1996, Zaire, reached three consecutive African Cup of Nations quarter-finals. In 1992 and 1994, they were beaten by Nigeria, and in 1996 they were beaten by Ghana. In 1997, the country returned to its former name of Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the national team was re-branded as the Simbas, a nickname that stuck for the next nine years.[9] DR Congo played their first game on 8 June 1997 in Pointe-Noire which ended in a 1–0 loss to the Republic of the Congo. At the 1998 African Cup of Nations, DR Congo, led by Louis Watunda, surprisingly took third place, beating Cameroon in the quarter-finals and hosts Burkina Faso 4–1 on penalties in their last match after scoring three late goals to tie the encounter 4–4.

At the 2000 African Cup of Nations, the team finished third in their group, and in 2002 were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Senegal. Then, in 2004, DR Congo were eliminated after three straight defeats in the group stages. In 2006, led by Claude Le Roy, having finished second in the group behind Cameroon, the Congolese were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Egypt 4–1.

Struggles

DR Congo were drawn in group 10 for qualifications for the 2008 African Cup of Nations, along with Libya, Namibia and Ethiopia. Before the last match day, the Congolese led the group, but they drew 1–1 with Libya in their final match while Namibia beat Ethiopia 3–2. This sent Namibia through to the Finals, while the Leopards were eliminated. DR Congo also failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. In 2009, DR Congo won the 2009 African Championship of Nations, a competition reserved to players in domestic leagues, a tournament they would again win in 2016. DR Congo reached the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals in South Africa but were knocked out in the group stages after drawing all three matches.

The Ibengé era: rise and near World Cup miss

In the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, DR Congo again drew all three group matches but this time finished second in the group behind Tunisia, and therefore advanced to the quarter-finals to play their rivals Republic of Congo, a match in which the Leopards came from two goals down to win 4–2. However, they were knocked out by the Ivory Coast 3–1 in the semi-finals. They ended up finishing third, beating Equatorial Guinea on penalties, after the third place match finished 0–0 in regulation time.

DR Congo under Ibengé improved radically and had an outstanding performance for many decades in a World Cup qualification. During the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, DR Congo was grouped with Libya, Tunisia and Guinea. DR Congo managed an outstanding performance, beating Libya and Guinea home and away, but missed the chance after losing 1–2 to eventual World Cup qualifier Tunisia in Tunis and drew 2–2 at home to the same opponent.

Home stadium

Stade des Martyrs has been the home of the national team since it's establishment and they roughly play their games at Lubumbashi.

Results and fixtures

See main article: DR Congo national football team results (2020–present). The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2025

Coaches

Players

Current squad

The following players have been selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Senegal and Togo on 6 and 9 June 2024 respectively.[10]

Caps and goals as of 9 June 2024, after match against Togo. [11]

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up for DR Congo in the last twelve months and are still eligible to represent.INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
PRE Preliminary squad.
RET Player has retired from international football.
SUS Suspended from the national team.

Records

[12]

Players in bold are still active with DR Congo.

Most appearances

RankNameCapsGoalsCareer
1Chancel Mbemba8562012–present
2Issama Mpeko8122011–2023
3Robert Kidiaba6402002–2015
4Cédric Bakambu54162015–present
5Zola Matumona5392002–2014
Trésor Mputu53142004–2022
7Joël Kimwaki5232009–2016
8Yannick Bolasie5092013–2022
Marcel Mbayo5041996–2011
10Dieumerci Mbokani49222005–2022

Top goalscorers

RankNameGoalsCapsRatioCareer
1Dieumerci Mbokani22492005–2022
2Cédric Bakambu16542015–present
3Shabani Nonda14222000–2008
Trésor Mputu14532004–2022
5Jean-Jacques Yemweni12162000–2007
6Ngoy Kabongo11221981–1991
7Ndaye Mulamba10201973–1976
8Kakoko Etepé9311970–1976
Dioko Kaluyituka9312004–2013
Jonathan Bolingi9342014–2022
Ndombe Mubele9452013–2018
Meschak Elia9462016–present
Yannick Bolasie9502013–2022
Zola Matumona9532002–2014

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

See also: DR Congo at the FIFA World Cup.

FIFA World Cup recordQualification record
YearRoundPosition
as and as and
1930 to 1962Not a FIFA memberNot a FIFA member
as as
1966Did not enterDid not enter
as as
1970Entry not accepted by FIFAEntry not accepted by FIFA
1974Group stage16th300301411812204
1978WithdrewWithdrew
1982Did not qualify421169
1986BannedBanned
1990Did not qualify622277
1994301213
199882241110
as as
2002Did not qualify104241718
2006104421410
20106303146
20148332115
2018861 1209
2022833 2118
2026To be determined421 142
2030To be determined
2034
Total30030148639212613691

Africa Cup of Nations

See main article: DR Congo at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Africa Cup of Nations recordQualification record
YearRoundPosition
1957Part of BelgiumPart of Belgium
1959
1962Not affiliated to CAFNot affiliated to CAF
1963
Played as Played as
1965Group stage5th200228620288
Played as Played as
1968bgcolor=goldChampions 1st5401102530174
1970Group stage7th301225Qualified as defending champions
Played as Played as
1972Fourth place 4th5122911440093
1974bgcolor=goldChampions1st64111484301123
1976Group stage7th301236Qualified as defending champions
1978Did not enterDid not enter
1980Did not qualify43011010
1982420289
1984WithdrewWithdrew
1986Did not qualify842184
1988Group stage7th302123413031
1990Did not qualify201102
1992Quarter-finals6th302123631264
1994Quarter-finals7th3111236321133
1996Quarter-finals8th3102236312105
Played as / / DR CongoPlayed as / / DR Congo
1998Third place3rd6312109623165
2000Group stage12th302101631276
2002Quarter-finals6th41123483321310
2004Group stage15th300316632195
2006Quarter-finals8th411236104421410
2008Did not qualify63211410
20106303146
201262311110
2013Group stage10th3030334400125
2015Third place3rd6141776303109
2017Quarter-finals6th4211756501166
2019Round of 1614th411266623186
2021Did not qualify623145
2023Fourth place4th7151656402114
2025To be determined To be determined
2027
Total2 Titles20/348021293094104147743436243153

African Nations Championship

African Nations Championship recordQualification record
YearRoundPosition
Final Winners5 3 1 1 7 5 4 3 0 1 7 2
Quarter-finals 8th 4 1 1 2 3 5 2 1 1 0 3 2
Quarter-finals 7th 4 2 0 2 3 3 2 1 1 0 2 2
Final Winners 6 4 1 1 14 7 DR Congo qualified by walkover.
Did not qualify 2 0 2 0 1 1
Quarter-finals 4 2 1 1 5 4 2 2 0 0 6 1
Group stage 302103 2 2 0 0 7 1
Total 2 titles 5/6 23 12 4 7 32 24 12 7 4 1 19 8

African Games

See also: DR Congo national under-20 football team.

African Games record
YearResultPldWDLGFGA
19655th5311208
1973-1987Did not enter
Total1/45311208

Head-to-head record

Including the record of . Updated as for 9 June 2024.

scope=colOpponentscope=colscope=colscope=colscope=colscope=colscope=colscope=colscope=col
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 7043410
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 178542213
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 100101
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 4310104
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 523040
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 100103
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 135262321
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 440093
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 36117183246
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 312032
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 7511185
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 110040
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 38181286638
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 4310213
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 141581527
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 311152
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 7313116
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 6501114
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 196851616
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 311135
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 2456132340
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 146241510
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 200213
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 205692734
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 126241613
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 7340174
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 94231510
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 125521911
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 147342715
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 742196
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 112451418
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 5500151
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 5500163
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 100112
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 173951420
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 7520157
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 311147
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 202022
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 311133
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 104151616
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 101000
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 101022
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 101022
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 202022
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 5203107
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 100102
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 100102
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 133461318
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 220070
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 330081
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 9126510
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 127232011
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 155731411
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 1713314111
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 2054111727
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 169252910
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 100109
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 2781274335
scope=row style="text-align:left;" 83231710

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: BBC SPORT | WORLD CUP | History | 1974: Zaire's show of shame . BBC News . 22 May 2002 . 15 November 2013 . 20 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170920160541/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/history/newsid_1993000/1993333.stm . live .
  2. Web site: FIFA . 2024-01-18 . fifa.com . en . 8 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210908231837/https://www.fifa.com/ . live .
  3. Web site: Courtney. Barrie. DR Congo (Zaire, Congo-Kinshasa) – List of International matches. FRSSF. 10 November 2010. 14 June 2007. 8 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230308221639/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zaire-intres.html. live.
  4. Web site: Leopards roar to Germany 1974 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160923022609/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=598/match=2156/classic-match/index.html . dead . 23 September 2016 . FIFA.com . 21 September 2016.
  5. Web site: More than a game? Mobutu, Sport and Zairian Identity, 1965-1974 . 21 September 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170109083651/http://www.undergraduatelibrary.org/system/files/648.pdf . 9 January 2017 . dead .
  6. Web site: Explore . Channel 4 . 15 November 2013 . 19 January 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100119154422/http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/worldcup_moments/results.html . live .
  7. News: BBC Sport – Football – Zaire free-kick farce explained . BBC News . 28 May 2010 . 15 November 2013 . 28 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200328083520/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8711835.stm . live .
  8. News: The Joy of Six: Symbolic reducers, including Roy Keane, Norman Whiteside and Benjamin Massing | Football . theguardian.com . 23 July 2007 . 15 November 2013 . London . 3 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203190322/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/jul/23/newsstory.sport11 . live .
  9. Web site: Football Team Nicknames . topendsports.com . 22 September 2016 . 13 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110813111201/http://www.topendsports.com/sport/soccer/team-nicknames.htm . live .
  10. Web site: Léopards : la liste de Desabre avec 3 nouveaux !. 21 May 2024. French.
  11. Web site: Congo DR vs. Togo- 9 June 2024.
  12. Web site: Congo-Kinshasa – Record International Players . Roberto Mamrud . . 28 May 2018 . 10 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220710163315/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/kongk-recintlp.html . live .

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