DR Congo national football team
Nickname(s) | The Leopards | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Congolese Association Football Federation | ||
Confederation | CAF (Africa) | ||
Sub-confederation | UNIFFAC (Central Africa) | ||
Head coach | Héctor Cúper | ||
Captain | Marcel Tisserand | ||
Most caps | Issama Mpeko (76) | ||
Top scorer | Dieumerci Mbokani (22) | ||
Home stadium | Stade des Martyrs | ||
FIFA code | COD | ||
| |||
FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 64 (23 December 2021)[1] | ||
Highest | 28 (July–August 2017) | ||
Lowest | 133 (October 2011) | ||
First international | |||
Belgian Congo 3–2 Northern Rhodesia (Belgian Congo; Date Unknown 1948) | |||
Biggest win | |||
DR Congo 10–1 Zambia (Kinshasa, Congo DR; 22 November 1969) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
Yugoslavia 9–0 Zaire (Gelsenkirchen, West Germany; 18 June 1974) | |||
World Cup | |||
Appearances | 1 (first in 1974) | ||
Best result | Group stage, 1974 | ||
Africa Cup of Nations | |||
Appearances | 19 (first in 1965) | ||
Best result | Champions, 1968 and 1974 |
The DR Congo national football team, recognised by FIFA as Congo DR (formerly known as Zaire, alternatively known as Congo-Kinshasa), 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 the Leopards.[3] The team is a member of FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Congo DR have been ranked as high as 28 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.
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 played in Dakar, Senegal. DR Congo won the match 6–0.[4] 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.[5] 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’.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8] Many contemporary commentators instead held it to be an example of African football's "naïvety and indiscipline".[9]
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's name changed to DR Congo and the national team was re-branded as the Simbas, a nickname that stuck for the next nine years.[10] 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.
Recent schedule and results[]
The following is a list of match results from the previous 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Win Draw Loss Postponed
2021[]
17 January 2020 CHAN | DR Congo | 1–0 | Congo | Douala, Cameroon |
20:00 UTC+1 | 47' | Stadium: Stade de la Réunification |
21 January 2020 CHAN | Libya | 1–1 | DR Congo | Douala, Cameroon |
17:00 UTC+1 |
|
|
Stadium: Stade de la Réunification |
25 January 2020 CHAN | Niger | 1–2 | DR Congo | Yaoundé, Cameroon |
20:00 UTC+1 |
|
|
Stadium: Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo |
30 January 2020 CHAN QF | DR Congo | 1–2 | Cameroon | Douala, Cameroon |
20:00 UTC+1 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Japoma Stadium |
25 March 2021 AFCONQ | Gabon | 3–0 | DR Congo | Franceville, Gabon |
17:00 UTC+1 |
|
Report | Stadium: Stade de Franceville Referee: Janny Sikazwe (Zambia) | |
Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all matches of matchdays 5 and 6 scheduled for June 2020 had been postponed to March 2021.[11] |
29 March 2021 AFCONQ | DR Congo | 1–0 | Gambia | Kinshasa, DR Congo |
17:00 UTC+1 |
|
Report | Stadium: Stade des Martyrs Referee: Amin Mohamed Omar (Egypt) | |
Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all matches of matchdays 5 and 6 scheduled for June 2020 had been postponed to March 2021.[12] |
5 June Friendly | Tunisia | 1–0 | DR Congo | Radès, Tunisia |
20:30 UTC+1 |
|
Report | Stadium: Stade Olympique de Radès Referee: Ibrahim Mutaz (Libya) |
11 June Friendly | DR Congo | 1–1 | Mali | Tunis, Tunisia |
16:00 UTC+1 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Stade El Menzah Attendance: 0 |
2 September 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup Q. | DR Congo | 1–1 | Tanzania | Lubumbashi, DR Congo |
15:00 UTC+2 | Mbokani 23' | Report | Msuva 36' | Stadium: Stade TP Mazembe Referee: Kalilou Ibrahim Traore (Ivory Coast) |
6 September 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup Q. | Benin | 1–1 | DR Congo | Cotonou, Benin |
15:00 UTC+2 | Adeoti 33' | Report | Mbokani 11' | Stadium: Stade de l'Amitié Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Jean Ouattara (Burkina Faso) |
7 October 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup Q. | DR Congo | 2–0 | Madagascar | Kinshasa, DR Congo |
15:00 UTC+2 |
|
Report | Stadium: Stade des Martyrs Referee: Antonio Caluassi Dungula (Angola) |
10 October 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup Q. | Madagascar | 1–0 | DR Congo | Antananarivo, Madagascar |
15:00 UTC+2 | Report | Stadium: Mahamasina Municipal Stadium Referee: Patrice Milazare (Mauritius) |
11 November 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup Q. | Tanzania | 0–3 | DR Congo | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
15:00 UTC+2 | Report | Stadium: National Stadium Referee: Bernard Camille (Seychelles) |
14 November 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup Q. | DR Congo | 2–0 | Benin | Kinshasa, DR Congo |
15:00 UTC+2 |
|
Report | Stadium: Stade des Martyrs Referee: Eric Otogo-Castane (Gabon) |
2022[]
3 January 2022 Friendly | Burkina Faso | v | DR Congo | TBD, United Arab Emirates |
Stadium: TBD Referee: TBD |
1 February 2022 Friendly | Bahrain | v | DR Congo | TBD, United Arab Emirates |
Stadium: TBD Referee: TBD |
March 2022 2022 World Cup qualification 1st Leg | TBD | v | DR Congo | TBD |
March 2022 2022 World Cup qualification 2nd Leg | DR Congo | v | TBD | TBD |
Coaches[]
- Ferenc Csanádi (1967–1968)
- Léon Mokuna (1968–1970)
- (1970)
- Blagoje Vidinić (1970–1974)
- Ştefan Stănculescu (1974–1976)
- Julien Kialunda (?–?)
- Otto Pfister (1985–1989)
- Paul Bonga Bonga (1989–?)
- Pierre Kalala Mukendi (1992–1993, 1994)
- Jean-Santos Muntubila (1995)
- Muhsin Ertuğral (1995–1996)
- Jean-Santos Muntubila (1996–1997)
- Mohamed Magassouba (1997)
- Celio Barros (1997)
- (1997)
- Georges Leekens (1997)
- (1998–1999)
- (1999–2000)
- Roger Palmgren (1999–2000)
- Jean-Santos Muntubila (2001)
- Yuri Gavrilov (2001)
- Eugène Kabongo (2002)
- (2002-2003)
- Mick Wadsworth (2003–2004)
- Claude Le Roy (2004–2006)
- Henri Depireux (2006–2007)
- Patrice Neveu (2008–2010)
- Robert Nouzaret (2010–2011)
- Claude Le Roy (2011–2013)
- Jean-Santos Muntubila (2013–2014)
- Florent Ibengé (2014–2019)
- Christian Nsengi-Biembe (2019–2021)
- Héctor Cúper (2021–)
Players[]
Current squad[]
The following players have been selected for the friendlies matches against Algeria and Burkina Faso on 1 and 3 January 2022.[13] Matches were, later, nulled.
Caps and goals as of 14 November 2021, after the match against Benin.[14]
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Hervé Lomboto | 27 September 1989 | 6 | 0 | Motema Pembe | |
GK | 21 July 1997 | 2 | 0 | Groupe Bazano | ||
GK | 0 | 0 | Renaissance | |||
DF | Yannick Bangala Litombo | 12 April 1994 | 21 | 0 | Young Africans | |
DF | Dieumerci Amale | 17 October 1998 | 8 | 0 | Difaâ | |
DF | 11 September 1991 | 4 | 2 | Motema Pembe | ||
DF | Djuma Shabani | 16 March 1993 | 2 | 0 | Young Africans | |
DF | Arsène Zola | 23 February 1996 | 1 | 0 | Mazembe | |
DF | 20 November 1999 | 0 | 0 | Lupopo | ||
DF | 5 February 1990 | 0 | 0 | Motema Pembe | ||
DF | 25 September 1993 | 0 | 0 | Maniema | ||
MF | Trésor Mputu | 10 December 1985 | 50 | 14 | Mazembe | |
MF | Fabrice Ngoma | 22 January 1994 | 17 | 0 | Raja Casablanca | |
MF | Miché Mika | 16 September 1996 | 7 | 0 | Mazembe | |
MF | Mukoko Tonombe | 16 January 1996 | 6 | 0 | Young Africans | |
MF | 10 September 1995 | 0 | 0 | Mazembe | ||
MF | 30 January 2000 | 0 | 0 | Maniema Union | ||
FW | Kadima Kabangu | 15 June 1993 | 3 | 0 | Motema Pembe | |
FW | Makabi Lilepo | 27 July 1997 | 3 | 0 | Vita Club | |
FW | Chadrac Muzungu | 14 April 1997 | 1 | 0 | RS Berkane | |
FW | 24 September 2000 | 0 | 0 | Mazembe | ||
FW | 16 November 1999 | 0 | 0 | Mazembe | ||
FW | 0 | 0 | Motema Pembe | |||
FW | 28 October 1996 | 0 | 0 | Maniema | ||
FW | 13 March 2002 | 0 | 0 | Motema Pembe | ||
FW | 18 April 1997 | 0 | 0 | Mazembe |
Recent call-ups[]
The following players have been called up for DR Congo in the last 12 months.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Joël Kiassumbua | 6 April 1992 | 16 | 0 | Free agent | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
GK | Lionel Mpasi | 1 August 1994 | 0 | 0 | Rodez AF | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
GK | Parfait Mandanda | 10 October 1989 | 12 | 0 | Mouscron | v. Madagascar, 11 October 2021 |
GK | 28 May 1999 | 0 | 0 | Maniema Union | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE | |
GK | Riffi Mandanda | 11 October 1992 | 0 | 0 | Créteil | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE |
GK | 5 April 1997 | 0 | 0 | Vita Club | v. Mali, 11 June 2021 | |
GK | 6 December 1987 | 1 | 0 | Motema Pembe | v. Gambia, 29 March 2021 | |
GK | Timothy Fayulu | 24 July 1999 | 0 | 0 | Sion | v. Gambia, 29 March 2021 |
DF | Chancel Mbemba | 8 August 1994 | 60 | 4 | Porto | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
DF | Ngonda Muzinga | 31 December 1994 | 20 | 0 | Dijon | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
DF | Christian Luyindama | 8 January 1994 | 21 | 0 | Galatasaray | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
DF | Fabrice Nsakala | 21 July 1990 | 18 | 0 | Beşiktaş | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
DF | Arthur Masuaku | 7 November 1993 | 10 | 1 | West Ham United | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
DF | Jordan Ikoko | 3 February 1994 | 7 | 0 | Ludogorets | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
DF | Idumba Fasika | 28 February 1999 | 6 | 1 | Cape Town City | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
DF | Marcel Tisserand | 10 January 1993 | 32 | 0 | Fenerbahçe | v. Tanzania, 11 November 2021 INJ |
DF | Issama Mpeko | 30 April 1989 | 76 | 1 | Mazembe | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE |
DF | Merveille Bokadi | 21 May 1996 | 19 | 1 | Standard Liège | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE |
DF | Chris Mavinga | 26 May 1991 | 5 | 0 | Toronto FC | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE |
DF | 1 November 1993 | 2 | 0 | Simba | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE | |
DF | 4 January 1997 | 1 | 0 | Mazembe | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE | |
DF | Vital N'Simba | 8 July 1993 | 1 | 0 | Clermont | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE |
DF | Gédéon Kalulu | 29 August 1997 | 2 | 0 | Ajaccio | v. Mali, 11 June 2021 |
DF | Unknown | 0 | 0 | Renaissance | v. Gambia, 29 March 2021 | |
MF | Neeskens Kebano | 10 March 1992 | 29 | 6 | Fulham | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
MF | Chadrac Akolo | 1 April 1995 | 17 | 2 | Amiens | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
MF | Samuel Moutoussamy | 12 August 1996 | 13 | 0 | FC Nantes | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
MF | Gaël Kakuta | 21 June 1991 | 12 | 2 | Lens | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
MF | Edo Kayembe | 3 August 1998 | 7 | 0 | Eupen | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
MF | Joel Ngandu Kayamba | 17 April 1992 | 6 | 0 | Viktoria Plzeň | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
MF | Samuel Bastien | 26 November 1996 | 4 | 0 | Standard Liège | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
MF | Glody Likonza | 10 May 1998 | 1 | 0 | Standard Liège | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
MF | Paul-José M'Poku | 19 April 1992 | 22 | 6 | Konyaspor | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE |
MF | Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu | 22 March 1994 | 2 | 0 | Luton Town | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE |
MF | Omenuke Mfulu | 20 March 1994 | 1 | 0 | Las Palmas | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE |
MF | Charles Pickel | 15 May 1997 | 0 | 0 | Famalicão | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE |
MF | Giannelli Imbula | 12 September 1992 | 2 | 0 | Portimonense | v. Mali, 11 June 2021 |
MF | Jérémie Mumbere | 10 June 1991 | 2 | 0 | Vita Club | v. Gambia, 29 March 2021 |
MF | Jonathan Ifunga Ifasso | 10 March 1999 | 1 | 0 | Difaâ | v. Gambia, 29 March 2021 |
MF | 3 March 1986 | 0 | 0 | Sanga Balende | v. Gambia, 29 March 2021 | |
FW | Yannick Bolasie | 24 May 1989 | 48 | 9 | Çaykur Rizespor | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
FW | Dieumerci Mbokani | 22 November 1985 | 46 | 22 | Kuwait SC | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
FW | Cédric Bakambu | 11 April 1991 | 37 | 13 | Beijing Guoan | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
FW | Ben Malango | 10 September 1993 | 13 | 4 | Al-Sharjah | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
FW | Jackson Muleka | 4 October 1999 | 9 | 1 | Standard Liège | v. Benin, 14 November 2021 |
FW | André Bukia | 3 March 1995 | 1 | 0 | Arouca | v. Madagascar, 11 October 2021 |
FW | Jonathan Okita | 5 October 1995 | 1 | 0 | NEC Nijmegen | v. Madagascar, 11 October 2021 |
FW | Jonathan Bolingi | 30 June 1994 | 31 | 8 | Antwerp | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE |
FW | Jordan Botaka | 24 June 1993 | 25 | 4 | Charleroi | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE |
FW | Meschak Elia | 6 August 1997 | 20 | 6 | Young Boys | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE |
FW | Britt Assombalonga | 6 September 1992 | 10 | 1 | Adana Demirspor | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE |
FW | Benik Afobe | 12 February 1993 | 5 | 1 | Millwall | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE |
FW | Joël Beya | 8 December 1999 | 4 | 4 | Mazembe | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE |
FW | Yoane Wissa | 3 September 1996 | 2 | 1 | Brentford | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE |
FW | Walter Bwalya | 5 May 1995 | 1 | 0 | Al Ahly | v. Madagascar, 6 October 2021 PRE |
FW | Kazadi Kasengu | 20 July 1992 | 5 | 0 | Wydad Casablanca | v. Tunisia, 31 May 2021 PRE |
FW | 30 June 1997 | 0 | 0 | Mazembe | v. Tunisia, 31 May 2021 PRE | |
INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury. |
Records[]
- As of 11 November 2021[15]
- Players in bold are still active with DR Congo.
|
|
Competitive record[]
FIFA World Cup[]
FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup qualification record | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
1930 | Did not enter | Declined participation | |||||||||||||
1934 | |||||||||||||||
1938 | |||||||||||||||
1950 | |||||||||||||||
1954 | |||||||||||||||
1958 | |||||||||||||||
1962 | |||||||||||||||
1966 | |||||||||||||||
1970 | |||||||||||||||
1974 | Group stage | 16th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 4 | |
1978 | Withdrew | Withdrew | |||||||||||||
1982 | Did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | ||||||||
1986 | Banned | Banned | |||||||||||||
1990 | Did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | ||||||||
1994 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||
1998 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 10 | |||||||||
2002 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 18 | |||||||||
2006 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 10 | |||||||||
2010 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 6 | |||||||||
2014 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 5 | |||||||||
2018 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 10 | |||||||||
2022 | To be determined | To be determined | |||||||||||||
2026 | |||||||||||||||
Total | Group stage | 1/23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 74 | 34 | 17 | 23 | 121 | 82 |
Africa Cup of Nations[]
Africa Cup of Nations | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Titles: 2 Appearances: 19 | ||||||||
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
1957 | Part of Belgium | |||||||
1959 | ||||||||
1962 | Not affiliated to CAF | |||||||
1963 | ||||||||
Played as Congo-Léopoldville | ||||||||
1965 | Group stage | 5th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
Played as Congo-Kinshasa | ||||||||
1968 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 2 |
1970 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
Played as Zaire | ||||||||
1972 | Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 11 |
1974 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 8 |
1976 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
1978 | Did not enter | |||||||
1980 | Did not qualify | |||||||
1982 | ||||||||
1984 | Withdrew | |||||||
1986 | Did not qualify | |||||||
1988 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
1990 | Did not qualify | |||||||
1992 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
1994 | Quarter-finals | 7th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
1996 | Quarter-finals | 8th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Played as DR Congo | ||||||||
1998 | Third place | 3rd | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 9 |
2000 | Group stage | 12th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
2002 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Played as DR Congo | ||||||||
2004 | Group stage | 15th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
2006 | Quarter-finals | 8th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
Played as DR Congo | ||||||||
2008 | Did not qualify | |||||||
2010 | ||||||||
2012 | ||||||||
2013 | Group stage | 10th | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
2015 | Third place | 3rd | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 7 |
2017 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
2019 | Round of 16 | 14th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
2021 | Did not qualify | |||||||
2023 | To be determined | |||||||
2025 | ||||||||
Total | 2 Titles | 19/33 | 73 | 20 | 24 | 29 | 88 | 99 |
African Nations Championship record[]
African Nations Championship | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appearances: 5 | ||||||||
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
2009 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
2011 | Quarter-finals | 8th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
2014 | 7th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |
2016 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 7 |
2018 | Did not qualify | |||||||
2020 | Quarter-finals | 5th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
2022 | To be determined | |||||||
Total | Champions | 5/6 | 23 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 32 | 24 |
African Games[]
- Football at the African Games has been an under-23 tournament since 1991.
African Games record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | GP | W | D | L | GS | GA | |
1965 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
1973 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
1978 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
1987 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
1991–present | See | |||||||
Total | 4/4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
References[]
- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ "BBC SPORT | WORLD CUP | History | 1974: Zaire's show of shame". BBC News. 22 May 2002. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ^ Courtney, Barrie (14 June 2007). "DR Congo (Zaire, Congo-Kinshasa) – List of International matches". FRSSF. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
- ^ "Leopards roar to Germany 1974". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
- ^ "More than a game? Mobutu, Sport and Zairian Identity, 1965-1974" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
- ^ "Explore". Channel 4. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ^ "BBC Sport – Football – Zaire free-kick farce explained". BBC News. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ^ "The Joy of Six: Symbolic reducers, including Roy Keane, Norman Whiteside and Benjamin Massing | Football". London: theguardian.com. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ^ "Football Team Nicknames". topendsports.com. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- ^ "Total AFCON 2021 qualifiers postponed". CAF. 13 March 2020.
- ^ "Total AFCON 2021 qualifiers postponed". CAF. 13 March 2020.
- ^ "Elim/Coupe du monde 2022 : les 26 Léopards d'Hector Cuper pour le 1er stage des Emirats Arabes Unis avec Kevin Bileko, Boka Issaka et Rodrigue Kitwa | Actualite.cd".
- ^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™".
- ^ Roberto Mamrud. "Congo-Kinshasa – Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
External links[]
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- Democratic Republic of the Congo national football team
- African national association football teams
- Africa Cup of Nations-winning countries
- National sports teams of the Democratic Republic of the Congo