DR Congo national football team

DR Congo
Nickname(s) The Leopards
Association Fédération Congolaise de Football-Association (FECOFA)
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation UNIFFAC (Central Africa)
Head coach Florent Ibengé
Captain Youssouf Mulumbu
Most caps Muteba Kidiaba (64)
Top scorer Dieumerci Mbokani (18)
Home stadium Stade des Martyrs
FIFA code COD
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 40 Decrease 3 (20 September 2018)
Highest 28 (July–August 2017)
Lowest 133 (October 2011)
Elo ranking
Current 63 Increase 2 (24 July 2018)
Highest 20 (March 1974)
Lowest 111 (September 2010)
First international
Belgian Congo 3–2 Northern Rhodesia 
(Belgian Congo; 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 15 (first in 1965)
Best result Champions, 1968 and 1974
African Nations Championship
Appearances 4 (first in 2009)
Best result Champions, 2009 and 2016

The Democratic Republic of the Congo national football team (formerly known as Zaire, alternatively known as Congo-Kinshasa) is the national team of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is controlled by the Fédération Congolaise de Football-Association (FECOFA). They are nicknamed the Leopards.[1]

DR Congo 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 Fédération Congolaise de Football-Association (FECOFA) 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 the 11 April 1963, against Mauritania in the L'Amitié Tournament played in Dakar, Senegal. DR Congo won the match 6–0.[2] 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.[3] 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’.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6] Many contemporary commentators instead held it to be an example of African football's "naïvety and indiscipline".[7]

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.[8] 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

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.

Players

Current squad

The following players have been selected in the final squad for the double AFCON qualifying match against Zimbabwe on October 2018.[9]
Caps and goals as of 9 September 2018, after the match against Liberia.[10]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Ley Matampi (1989-04-18) 18 April 1989 31 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ansar
1GK Anthony Mossi (1994-05-15) 15 May 1994 2 0 Switzerland Chiasso
1GK Nathan Mabruki (1989-03-27) 27 March 1989 0 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Motema Pembe
2DF Issama Mpeko (1986-03-03) 3 March 1986 59 1 Democratic Republic of the Congo Mazembe
2DF Yannick Bangala Litombo (1994-04-12) 12 April 1994 20 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Vita Club
2DF Marcel Tisserand (1993-01-10) 10 January 1993 12 0 Germany VfL Wolfsburg
2DF Jordan Ikoko (1994-02-03) 3 February 1994 6 0 France Guingamp
2DF Christian Luyindama (1994-01-08) 8 January 1994 5 0 Belgium Standard Liège
2DF Arthur Masuaku (1993-11-07) 7 November 1993 0 0 England West Ham United
2DF Beaudrick Muselenge Ungenda (1989-11-19) 19 November 1989 0 0 Angola 1º de Agosto
2DF Djuma Shabani (1993-03-16) 16 March 1993 0 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Vita Club
3MF Chancel Mbemba (1994-08-08) 8 August 1994 42 3 Portugal Porto
3MF Neeskens Kebano (1992-03-10) 10 March 1992 20 5 England Fulham
3MF Jacques Maghoma (1987-10-23) 23 October 1987 20 1 England Birmingham City
3MF Wilfred Moke (1988-02-12) 12 February 1988 6 0 Turkey Konyaspor
3MF Gaël Kakuta (1991-06-21) 21 June 1991 4 1 Spain Rayo Vallecano
3MF Chadrac Akolo (1995-04-01) 1 April 1995 3 0 Germany VfB Stuttgart
3MF Nelson Munganga (1993-07-27) 27 July 1993 2 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Vita Club
3MF Luamba Ngoma (1994-01-22) 22 January 1994 2 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Vita Club
3MF Aaron Tshibola (1995-01-02) 2 January 1995 1 0 Scotland Kilmarnock
4FW Yannick Bolasie (1989-05-24) 24 May 1989 32 8 England Aston Villa
4FW Cédric Bakambu (1991-04-11) 11 April 1991 16 7 China Beijing Guoan
4FW Jordan Botaka (1993-06-24) 24 June 1993 15 4 Belgium Sint-Truiden
4FW Elia Meschak (1996-08-06) 6 August 1996 10 6 Democratic Republic of the Congo Mazembe
4FW Benik Afobe (1993-02-12) 12 February 1993 6 1 England Wolverhampton Wanderers
4FW Jean-Marc Mundele Makusu (1992-03-27) 27 March 1992 3 2 Democratic Republic of the Congo Vita Club

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 (1992-04-06) 6 April 1992 5 0 Switzerland Servette v.  Zimbabwe, 02 October 2018 PRE
GK Katembwe Auguy Kalambayi (1987-12-06) 6 December 1987 0 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Sanga Balende v.  Zimbabwe, 02 October 2018 PRE
GK Jackson Lunanga 0 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Maniema Union v.  Nigeria, 28 May 2018
GK Parfait Mandanda (1989-10-10) 10 October 1989 17 0 Belgium Charleroi v.  Tanzania, 24 March 2018 PRE
GK Mulopo Kudimbana (1987-01-21) 21 January 1987 9 0 Belgium Union Saint-Gilloise v.  Guinea, 11 November 2017 INJ
DF Ngonda Muzinga (1994-12-31) 31 December 1994 7 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Vita Club v.  Zimbabwe, 02 October 2018 PRE
DF Kevin Mondeko (1995-09-10) 10 September 1995 0 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Mazembe v.  Zimbabwe, 02 October 2018 PRE
DF Arsène Zola (1997-02-03) 3 February 1997 0 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Mazembe v.  Zimbabwe, 02 October 2018 PRE
DF Padou Bompunga (1992-01-30) 30 January 1992 18 2 Democratic Republic of the Congo Vita Club v.  Nigeria, 28 May 2018
DF Kanku Bukasa (1986-06-19) 19 June 1986 0 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Sanga Balende v.  Nigeria, 28 May 2018
DF Fabrice N'Sakala (1990-07-21) 21 July 1990 11 0 Turkey Alanyaspor v.  Tanzania, 24 March 2018 PRE
DF Gabriel Zakuani (1986-05-31) 31 May 1986 30 0 England Gillingham v.  Guinea, 11 November 2017
MF Lema Mabidi (1993-06-11) 11 June 1993 23 0 Morocco Raja Casablanca v.  Zimbabwe, 02 October 2018 PRE
MF Paul-José M'Poku (1992-04-19) 19 April 1992 11 6 Belgium Standard Liège v.  Zimbabwe, 02 October 2018 PRE
MF Glody Likonza (1998-10-05) 5 October 1998 0 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Mazembe v.  Zimbabwe, 02 October 2018 PRE
MF Miché Mika (1996-09-11) 11 September 1996 0 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Mazembe v.  Zimbabwe, 02 October 2018 PRE
MF Harrison Manzala (1994-03-06) 6 March 1994 0 0 France Amiens v.  Nigeria, 28 May 2018 PRE
MF Youssouf Mulumbu (1987-01-25) 25 January 1987 36 1 Scotland Celtic v.  Tanzania, 24 March 2018 PRE
MF Giannelli Imbula (1992-09-12) 12 September 1992 0 0 France Toulouse v.  Tanzania, 24 March 2018 PRE
MF Yeni N'Gbakoto (1992-01-23) 23 January 1992 3 1 England Queens Park Rangers v.  Guinea, 11 November 2017
MF Rémi Mulumba (1992-11-02) 2 November 1992 12 0 France Gazélec Ajaccio v.  Guinea, 11 November 2017 INJ
FW Ndombe Mubele (1994-04-17) 17 April 1994 44 9 France Toulouse v.  Zimbabwe, 02 October 2018 PRE
FW Jonathan Bolingi (1994-06-30) 30 June 1994 22 7 Belgium Antwerp v.  Zimbabwe, 02 October 2018 PRE
FW Junior Kabananga (1989-04-04) 4 April 1989 22 4 Kazakhstan Astana v.  Zimbabwe, 02 October 2018 PRE
FW Britt Assombalonga (1992-12-06) 6 December 1992 2 0 England Middlesbrough v.  Zimbabwe, 02 October 2018 PRE
FW Ben Malango (1993-11-10) 10 November 1993 1 1 Democratic Republic of the Congo Mazembe v.  Zimbabwe, 02 October 2018 PRE
FW Kasendu Kazadi (1992-07-20) 20 July 1992 1 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Vita Club v.  Nigeria, 28 May 2018
FW Cedric Ngulubi 1 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Sanga Balende v.  Nigeria, 28 May 2018
FW Ricky Tulengi (1993-02-02) 2 February 1993 1 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Motema Pembe v.  Nigeria, 28 May 2018
FW Kabongo Kasongo (1994-07-18) 18 July 1994 0 0 Egypt Zamalek v.  Nigeria, 28 May 2018
FW Emmanuel Ngudikana (1987-04-07) 7 April 1987 0 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Vita Club v.  Nigeria, 28 May 2018
FW Jeremy Bokila (1988-11-14) 14 November 1988 20 6 Romania Dinamo București v.  Guinea, 11 November 2017
FW Arnold Issoko (1992-04-06) 6 April 1992 1 0 India Mumbai City v.  Guinea, 11 November 2017

DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up.
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

Most capped players

As of May 28, 2018[11]
Players in bold are still active, at least at club level.
# Name International Career Caps Goals
1 Muteba Kidiaba 2002–2015 64 0
2 Issama Mpeko 2011– 60 1
3 Zola Matumona 2002–2014 53 9
4 Kimemba Mbayo 1996–2011 50 4
5 Trésor Mputu 2004–2013 47 14
6 Ndombe Mubele 2013– 45 9
7 Biscotte Mbala 1996–2010 44 3
Tsholola Tshinyama 2001–2012 44 1
8 Chancel Mbemba 2013– 42 3
9 Dieumerci Mbokani 2005– 41 18
Jean Kasusula 2011–2015 41 0
10 Kazadi Mwamba 1968-1980 40 0

Top goalscorers

As of May 28, 2018[12]
Players in bold are still active, at least at club level.
# Name International Career Goals Caps
1. Dieumerci Mbokani 2005– 18 41
2. Trésor Mputu 2004–2013 14 47
Shabani Nonda 2000–2008 14 22
3. Jean-Jacques Yemweni 2000–2007 12 ?
4. Eugène Kabongo 1981–1991 10 21
Ndaye Mulamba 1973–1976 10 20

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss

2017

2018

2019

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
Uruguay 1930 Did not enter Declined participation
Italy 1934
France 1938
Brazil 1950
Switzerland 1954
Sweden 1958
Chile 1962
England 1966
Mexico 1970
West Germany 1974 Group stage 16th 3 0 0 3 0 14 11 8 1 2 20 4
Argentina 1978 Withdrew Withdrew
Spain 1982 Did not qualify 4 2 1 1 6 9
Mexico 1986 Banned Banned
Italy 1990 Did not qualify 6 2 2 2 7 7
United States 1994 3 0 1 2 1 3
France 1998 8 2 2 4 11 10
South Korea Japan 2002 10 4 2 4 17 18
Germany 2006 10 4 4 2 14 10
South Africa 2010 6 3 0 3 14 6
Brazil 2014 8 3 3 2 11 5
Russia 2018 8 6 1 1 20 10
Qatar 2022 To be determined To be determined
Canada Mexico United States 2026
Total Group stage 1/21 3 0 0 3 0 14 74 34 17 23 121 82

African Nations Cup

African Cup of Nations
Titles: 2
Appearances: 15
Year Position Year Position Year Position Year Position
Sudan 1957Did not enterEthiopia 1976Round 1Tunisia 1994Quarter-finalsEquatorial GuineaGabon 2012Did not qualify
Egypt 1959Did not enterGhana 1978Did not enterSouth Africa 1996Quarter-finalsSouth Africa 2013Round 1
Ethiopia 1962Did not enterNigeria 1980Did not qualifyBurkina Faso 1998Third placeEquatorial Guinea 2015Third place
Ghana 1963Did not enterLibya 1982Did not qualifyGhanaNigeria 2000Round 1Gabon 2017Quarter-finals
Tunisia 1965Round 1Ivory Coast 1984WithdrewMali 2002Quarter-finalsCameroon 2019To be determined
Ethiopia 1968ChampionsEgypt 1986Did not qualifyTunisia 2004Round 1Ivory Coast 2021To be determined
Sudan 1970Round 1Morocco 1988Round 1Egypt 2006Quarter-finalsGuinea 2023To be determined
Cameroon 1972Fourth placeAlgeria 1990Did not qualifyGhana 2008Did not qualify
Egypt 1974ChampionsSenegal 1992Quarter-finalsAngola 2010Did not qualify

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
Republic of the Congo 1965-000000
Nigeria 1973-000000
Algeria 1978-000000
Kenya 1987-000000
1991–present See DR Congo national under-23 football team
Total4/4000000

List of coaches

References

  1. ↑ "BBC SPORT | WORLD CUP | History | 1974: Zaire's show of shame". BBC News. 2002-05-22. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  2. ↑ Courtney, Barrie (14 June 2007). "DR Congo (Zaire, Congo-Kinshasa) – List of International matches". FRSSF. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
  3. ↑ "Leopards roar to Germany 1974". FIFA.com. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  4. ↑ "More than a game? Mobutu, Sport and Zairian Identity, 1965-1974" (PDF). Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  5. ↑ "Explore". Channel 4. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  6. ↑ "BBC Sport – Football – Zaire free-kick farce explained". BBC News. 2010-05-28. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  7. ↑ "The Joy of Six: Symbolic reducers, including Roy Keane, Norman Whiteside and Benjamin Massing | Football". London: theguardian.com. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  8. ↑ "Football Team Nicknames". topendsports.com. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  9. ↑ http://www.rdcongoleopardsfoot.com/rd-congo-vs-zimbabwe-liste-de-26-leopards-retenus/
  10. ↑ http://www.worldfootball.com/m/513011/2018-09-09/afcon-qualification/liberia/congo-dr
  11. ↑ Roberto Mamrud. "Congo-Kinshasa – Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  12. ↑ Roberto Mamrud. "Congo-Kinshasa – Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
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