DR Congo national football team

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.[3] The team is a member of FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

DR Congo
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Les Léopards
English: The Leopards
AssociationFédération Congolaise de Football-Association (FECOFA)
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationUNIFFAC (Central Africa)
Head coachSébastien Desabre
CaptainChancel Mbemba
Most capsChancel Mbemba (85)
Top scorerDieumerci Mbokani (22)
Home stadiumStade des Martyrs
FIFA codeCOD
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 61 Increase 2 (20 June 2024)[1]
Highest28 (July–August 2017)
Lowest133 (October 2011)
First international
Belgian Congo 3–2 Northern Rhodesia 
(Belgian Congo; Date Unknown 1948)
Biggest win
 Congo-Kinshasa 10–1 Zambia 
(Kinshasa, Congo DR; 22 November 1969)
Biggest defeat
 Yugoslavia 9–0 Zaire 
(Gelsenkirchen, West Germany; 18 June 1974)
World Cup
Appearances1 (first in 1974)
Best resultGroup stage (1974)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances20 (first in 1965)
Best resultChampions (1968, 1974)
African Nations Championship
Appearances5 (first in 2009)
Best resultChampions, (2009, 2016)
COSAFA Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2016)
Best resultFourth place (2016)

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.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6] 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’.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9] Many contemporary commentators instead held it to be an example of African football's "naïvety and indiscipline".[10]

Crisis period

Zaire versus Brazil in the 1974 World Cup
Zaire versus Scotland in 1974 World Cup

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.[11] 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

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win  Draw  Loss  Fixture

2023

v  Sudan
9 September 2023 AFCON qualification DR Congo  2–0  Sudan Kinshasa, DR Congo
17:00 UTC+1
ReportStadium: Stade des Martyrs
Referee: Samir Guezzaz (Morocco)
v  DR Congo
12 September Friendly South Africa  1–0  DR Congo Johannesburg, South Africa
ReportStadium: Orlando Stadium
Attendance: 9,140
Referee: Thulani Sibandze (Eswatini)
v  DR Congo
17 October Friendly Angola  0–0  DR Congo Lisbon, Portugal
Report
v  Mauritania
15 November 2026 World Cup qualification DR Congo  2–0  Mauritania Kinshasa, DR Congo
17:00 UTC+1ReportStadium: Stade des Martyrs
Referee: Elmabrouk Muhammad (Libya)
v  DR Congo
19 November 2026 World Cup qualification Sudan  1–0  DR Congo Benina, Libya
18:00 UTC+2
ReportStadium: Martyrs of February Stadium
Attendance: 3,700
Referee: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia)

2024

v  Angola
6 January Friendly DR Congo  0–0  Angola Dubai, United Arab Emirates
15:00 UTC+3ReportStadium: Shabab Al Ahli Stadium
Referee: Sultan Al–Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)
v  Burkina Faso
10 January Friendly DR Congo  1–2  Burkina Faso Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
17:00 UTC+4
ReportStadium: Baniyas Stadium
Attendance: 0
v  Zambia
17 January 2023 AFCON GS DR Congo  1–1  Zambia San-Pédro, Ivory Coast
20:00 UTC±0
Report
Stadium: Laurent Pokou Stadium
Attendance: 15,478
Referee: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia)
v  DR Congo
21 January 2023 AFCON GS Morocco  1–1  DR Congo San-Pédro, Ivory Coast
14:00 UTC±0Report
Stadium: Laurent Pokou Stadium
Attendance: 13,342
Referee: Peter Waweru (Kenya)
v  DR Congo
24 January 2023 AFCON GS Tanzania  0–0  DR Congo Korhogo, Ivory Coast
20:00 UTC±0ReportStadium: Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium
Attendance: 12,847
Referee: Amin Omar (Egypt)
v  Guinea
2 February 2023 AFCON QF DR Congo  3–1  Guinea Abidjan, Ivory Coast
20:00 UTC±0
Report
Stadium: Alassane Ouattara Stadium
Attendance: 33,278[13]
Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
v  DR Congo
7 February 2023 AFCON SF Ivory Coast  1–0  DR Congo Abidjan, Ivory Coast
20:00 UTC±0
ReportStadium: Alassane Ouattara Stadium
Attendance: 51,020
Referee: Ibrahim Mutaz (Libya)
v  DR Congo
6 June 2026 FIFA WC Qualifier Senegal  1–1  DR Congo Diamniadio, Senegal
19:00 UTC±0
Report
Stadium: Diamniadio Olympic Stadium
Referee: Mutaz Ibrahim (Libya)
v  Togo
9 June 2026 FIFA WC Qualifier DR Congo  1–0  Togo Kinshasa, DR Congo
17:00 UTC+1
ReportStadium: Stade des Martyrs
Referee: Mehrez Malki (Tunisia)

2025

v  DR Congo
September 2026 FIFA WC Qualifier South Sudan  v  DR Congo TBD, South Sudan
v  Senegal
September 2026 FIFA WC Qualifier DR Congo  v  Senegal TBD, DR Congo
v  DR Congo
October 2026 FIFA WC Qualifier Togo  v  DR Congo TBD, Togo
v  Sudan
October 2026 FIFA WC Qualifier DR Congo  v  Sudan TBD, DR Congo

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.[14]

Caps and goals as of 9 June 2024, after match against Togo. [15]

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
1GKDimitry Bertaud (1998-06-06) 6 June 1998 (age 26)40 Montpellier
1GKTimothy Fayulu (1999-07-24) 24 July 1999 (age 24)00 Sion
1GKEsdras Kabamba (1999-06-24) 24 June 1999 (age 25)00 Bravos do Maquis

2DFChancel Mbemba (captain) (1994-08-08) 8 August 1994 (age 29)856 Marseille
2DFArthur Masuaku (1993-11-07) 7 November 1993 (age 30)263 Beşiktaş
2DFHenoc Inonga Baka (1993-11-01) 1 November 1993 (age 30)160 Simba
2DFGédéon Kalulu (1997-08-29) 29 August 1997 (age 26)150 Lorient
2DFDylan Batubinsika (1996-02-15) 15 February 1996 (age 28)80 Saint-Étienne
2DFJoris Kayembe (1994-08-08) 8 August 1994 (age 29)70 Genk
2DFRocky Bushiri (1999-11-30) 30 November 1999 (age 24)20 Hibernian
2DFAxel Tuanzebe (1997-11-14) 14 November 1997 (age 26)10 Ipswich Town

3MFSamuel Moutoussamy (1996-08-12) 12 August 1996 (age 27)340 Nantes
3MFGaël Kakuta (1991-06-21) 21 June 1991 (age 33)263 Amiens
3MFChadrac Akolo (1995-04-01) 1 April 1995 (age 29)252 St. Gallen
3MFThéo Bongonda (1995-11-20) 20 November 1995 (age 28)203 Spartak Moscow
3MFEdo Kayembe (1998-08-03) 3 August 1998 (age 25)201 Watford
3MFAaron Tshibola (1995-01-25) 25 January 1995 (age 29)141 Hatta
3MFCharles Pickel (1997-05-15) 15 May 1997 (age 27)140 Cremonese
3MFGrady Diangana (1998-04-19) 19 April 1998 (age 26)50 West Bromwich Albion
3MFNoah Sadiki (2004-12-17) 17 December 2004 (age 19)00 Union Saint-Gilloise

4FWMeschak Elia (1997-08-06) 6 August 1997 (age 26)469 Young Boys
4FWYoane Wissa (1996-09-03) 3 September 1996 (age 27)265 Brentford
4FWFiston Mayele (1994-06-24) 24 June 1994 (age 30)153 Pyramids
4FWSimon Banza (1996-08-13) 13 August 1996 (age 27)80 Braga
4FWSamuel Essende (1998-01-30) 30 January 1998 (age 26)20 Vizela

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.

Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClubLatest call-up
GKLionel Mpasi (1994-08-01) 1 August 1994 (age 29)150 Rodez2023 AFCON
GKBaggio Siadi (1997-07-21) 21 July 1997 (age 26)40 Mazembe2023 AFCON

DFBrian Bayeye (2000-06-30) 30 June 2000 (age 24)30 Ascoli2023 AFCON
DFNgonda Muzinga (1994-12-31) 31 December 1994 (age 29)240 Riga2023 AFCON PRE
DFMerveille Bokadi (1996-05-21) 21 May 1996 (age 28)221 Standard Liège2023 AFCON PRE
DFDieumerci Amale (1998-10-17) 17 October 1998 (age 25)180 Difaâ El Jadidi2023 AFCON PRE
DFJordan Ikoko (1994-02-03) 3 February 1994 (age 30)90 Pafos2023 AFCON PRE
DFVital N'Simba (1993-07-08) 8 July 1993 (age 31)20 Bordeaux2023 AFCON PRE
DFArsène Zola (1996-02-23) 23 February 1996 (age 28)10 Wydad Casablanca2023 AFCON PRE

MFOmenuke Mfulu (1994-03-20) 20 March 1994 (age 30)70 Las Palmas2023 AFCON
MFNeeskens Kebano (1992-03-10) 10 March 1992 (age 32)356 Al Jazira2023 AFCON PRE
MFMakabi Lilepo (1997-07-27) 27 July 1997 (age 26)70 Valenciennes2023 AFCON PRE
MFWilliam Balikwisha (1999-05-12) 12 May 1999 (age 25)40 Standard Liège2023 AFCON PRE
MFPelly Ruddock Mpanzu (1994-03-22) 22 March 1994 (age 30)30 Luton Town2023 AFCON PRE
MFArnaud Lusamba (1997-01-04) 4 January 1997 (age 27)20 Pendikspor2023 AFCON PRE
MFJonathan Okita (1996-10-05) 5 October 1996 (age 27)20 Zürich2023 AFCON PRE

FWCédric Bakambu (1991-04-11) 11 April 1991 (age 33)5416 Real Betis2023 AFCON
FWSilas Katompa Mvumpa (1998-10-06) 6 October 1998 (age 25)141 VfB Stuttgart2023 AFCON
FWJonathan Bolingi (1994-06-30) 30 June 1994 (age 30)349 Vojvodina2023 AFCON PRE
FWBen Malango (1993-11-10) 10 November 1993 (age 30)216 Qatar SC2023 AFCON PRE
FWJackson Muleka (1999-10-04) 4 October 1999 (age 24)141 Beşiktaş2023 AFCON PRE
FWAldo Kalulu (1996-01-21) 21 January 1996 (age 28)50 Partizan2023 AFCON PRE
FWGaëtan Laura (1995-08-06) 6 August 1995 (age 28)00 Samsunspor2023 AFCON PRE

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

As of 9 June 2024[16]
Players in bold are still active with DR Congo.

Most appearances

Chancel Mbemba is DR Congo's most capped player with 85 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

Dieumerci Mbokani is DR Congo's top scorer with 22 goals.
RankNameGoalsCapsRatioCareer
1Dieumerci Mbokani22490.452005–2022
2Cédric Bakambu16540.32015–present
3Shabani Nonda14220.642000–2008
Trésor Mputu14530.262004–2022
5Jean-Jacques Yemweni12160.752000–2007
6Ngoy Kabongo11220.51981–1991
7Ndaye Mulamba10200.51973–1976
8Kakoko Etepé9310.291970–1976
Dioko Kaluyituka9310.292004–2013
Jonathan Bolingi9340.262014–2022
Ndombe Mubele9450.22013–2018
Meschak Elia9460.22016–present
Yannick Bolasie9500.182013–2022
Zola Matumona9530.172002–2014

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup recordQualification record
YearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGAPldWDLGFGA
as  Congo and  Congo-Léopoldvilleas  Congo and  Congo-Léopoldville
1930 to 1962Not a FIFA memberNot a FIFA member
as  Congo-Kinshasaas  Congo-Kinshasa
1966Did not enterDid not enter
as  Zaireas  Zaire
1970Entry not accepted by FIFAEntry not accepted by FIFA
1974Group stage16th300301411812204
1978WithdrewWithdrew
1982Did not qualify421169
1986BannedBanned
1990Did not qualify622277
1994301213
199882241110
as  DR Congoas  DR Congo
2002Did not qualify104241718
2006104421410
20106303146
20148332115
20188611209
20228332118
2026To be determined421142
2030To be determined
2034
TotalGroup stage1/1530030148639212613691

Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations recordQualification record
YearRoundPositionPldWDLGFGAPldWDLGFGA
1957Part of BelgiumPart of Belgium
1959
1962Not affiliated to CAFNot affiliated to CAF
1963
Played as  Congo-LéopoldvillePlayed as  Congo-Léopoldville
1965Group stage5th200228620288
Played as  Congo-KinshasaPlayed as  Congo-Kinshasa
1968Champions1st5401102530174
1970Group stage7th301225Qualified as defending champions
Played as  ZairePlayed as  Zaire
1972Fourth place4th5122911440093
1974Champions1st64111484301123
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
YearRoundPositionPldWDLGFGAPldWDLGFGA
2009FinalWinners531175430172
2011Quarter-finals8th411235211032
2014Quarter-finals7th420233211022
2016FinalWinners6411147DR Congo qualified by walkover.
2018Did not qualify202011
2020Quarter-finals421154220061
2022Group stage302103220071
Total2 titles5/6231247322412741198

African Games

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

Head-to-head record

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

OpponentPWDLGFGAW%L%
 Algeria7043410042.86
 Angola17854221347.0623.53
 Bahrain1001010100
 Benin4310104750
 Botswana523040400
 Brazil1001030100
 Burkina Faso[note 1]13526232138.4646.15
 Burundi4400931000
 Cameroon3611718324630.5650
 Cape Verde31203233.330
 Central African Republic751118571.4314.29
 Chad1100401000
 Congo3818128663847.3721.05
 Djibouti4310213750
 Egypt1415815277.1457.14
 Equatorial Guinea31115233.3333.33
 Eswatini731311662.512.5
 Ethiopia650111483.3316.67
 Gabon19685161631.5826.32
 Gambia31113533.3333.33
 Ghana245613234020.8354.17
 Guinea14624151042.8628.57
 Iraq2002130100
 Ivory Coast2056927342545
 Kenya1262416135033.33
 Lesotho734017442.860
 Liberia9423151044.4433.33
 Libya12552191141.6716.67
 Madagascar1473427155028.57
 Malawi74219657.1414.29
 Mali11245141818.1845.45
 Mauritania55001511000
 Mauritius55001631000
 Mexico1001120100
 Morocco17395142017.6529.41
 Mozambique752015771.430
 Namibia31114733.3333.33
 New Zealand20202200
 Niger31113333.3333.33
 Nigeria1041516164050
 North Korea10100000
 Oman10102200
 Qatar10102200
 Romania20202200
 Rwanda52031074060
 Saudi Arabia1001020100
 Scotland1001020100
 Senegal13346131823.0846.15
 Seychelles2200701000
 Sierra Leone3300811000
 South Africa912651011.1166.67
 Sudan12723201158.3325
 Tanzania15573141138.4623.08
 Togo171331411176.475.88
 Tunisia20541117272555
 Uganda16925291056.2531.25
 Yugoslavia1001090100
 Zambia278127433530.7726.92
 Zimbabwe8323171037.537.5

References