Football in the Democratic Republic of the Congo explained

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Football in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Union:Congolese Association Football Federation
Sport:association football
Nationalteam:men's national team
National List:Coupe du Congo
Club List:Linafoot
Intl List:Champions League
CAF Confederation Cup
Super Cup
FIFA Club World Cup
FIFA World Cup (National Team)
African Cup of Nations (National Team)

Football is the most popular sport played in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The national football team has won the African Cup of Nations twice: in 1968 and 1974 under the nations' former name Zaire.[1] The national team qualified for the World Cup in 1974, their only appearance in that tournament.[2] [3]

Domestic football

At club level, in the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup, TP Mazembe made history as the first ever African club to reach a FIFA tournament final, beating the 2010 Copa Libertadores champions SC Internacional in the semifinals and losing to European Champions Internazionale in the final.[4] [5] [6] [7]

International football

Although DR Congo has had limited international success since the late 1970s, numerous players of Congolese descent have played professionally in Europe, including Romelu Lukaku, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jonathan Ikoné, Michy Batshuayi, Youri Tielemans, Steve Mandanda, Tanguy Ndombele, Christian Benteke, Elio Capradossi, Sara Gama, Axel Tuanzebe, Isaac Kiese Thelin, José Bosingwa and Denis Zakaria.

In international competitions, DR Congo has only qualified for three FIFA tournaments, the 1974 FIFA World Cup for the senior men's side, and the 2006 and 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cups, achieved by the U-20 women's side.

The largest football stadiums

StadiumLocationCapacityHome team(s)Image
1 Stade des Martyrs[8]
2

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The rebirth of a footballing nation: how Congolese football is once again among Africa's best. Luke. Ginnell. January 12, 2017.
  2. News: Africa Honors Its Soccer Past and Looks Forward. The New York Times. 10 June 2010 . 2013-12-02. Rhoden . William C. .
  3. Web site: Merrill . Austin . Zaire, the Leopards, and the 1974 World Cup . 9 April 2010 . Vanity Fair . 2013-12-02.
  4. News: TP Mazembe beat Pachuca at the Club World Cup . 2010-12-10. BBC Sport. 2010-12-14.
  5. Web site: Inter stunned as Mazembe reach final. https://web.archive.org/web/20101217070111/http://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/matches/round=254486/match=300140539/index.html. dead. December 17, 2010. Fifa.com. 2013-12-02.
  6. Web site: TP Mazembe 0 - 3 Internazionale. 2010-12-18. ESPN Soccernet. 2010-12-18. 2010-12-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20101222001421/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=309865&cc=5739. dead.
  7. Web site: TP Mazembe vs FC Internazionale Preview . Goal.com . 2013-11-28 . 2013-12-02.
  8. https://cafe.daum.net/stade/Dlwn/24 Photos