DR Congo national football team

DR Congo

Nickname(s)	The Leopards
Association	Fédération Congolaise de Football-Association (FECOFA)
Sub-confederation	UNIFFAC (Central Africa)
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Head coach	Florent Ibengé
Captain	Youssuf Mulumbu
Home stadium	Stade des Martyrs
FIFA code	COD
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	55 5 (5 November 2015)
Highest	46 (February 2015)
Lowest	133 (October 2011)
First international
Belgian Congo 3–2 Northern Rhodesia (Belgian Congo; 1948)
World Cup
Appearances	1 (First in 1974)
Best result	First round, 1974
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	15 (First in 1965)
Best result	Winners: 1968 & 1974

The Democratic Republic of the Congo national football team (formerly the Zaire national football team) 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.

DR Congo have been ranked as high as 46 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.

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. From 1971 to 1997 the country, and therefore the team, was known as Zaire. Their first game as Zaire was played in Cameroon against Sudan. Sudan won this game 3–0. Six years later Zaire won the 1974 African Cup of Nations in Egypt. The team 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 Mulamba Ndaye was top scorer with nine goals, wehich 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 FIFA World Cup. At the 1974 FIFA World Cup Zaire did not manage to score any goals and lost all of its games. Their 9–0 defeat against Yugoslavia still remains a World Cup record. Facing a free-kick 25 yards out during the 1974 World Cup finals match against Brazil, 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, though many commentators held it to be an example of African football's "naïvety and indiscipline". However, Ilunga has claimed 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.

Crisis period

After winning the 1974 African Cup of Nations and participating in the 1974 FIFA World Cup, the team did not get past the first round of the 1976 African Cup of Nations not recording a win in the group stages. Morocco went on to win the tournament. From 1978 to 1986, the country did not qualify for any other African Cup of Nations, while withdrawing from qualification for the 1978 FIFA World Cup. In the 1988 African Cup of Nations Zaire finished last in their group despite having 2 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, their name changed to DR Congo. DR Congo played their first game on the 8 June 1997 in Brazzaville which ended in a 1–0 victory for them. At the 1998 African Cup of Nations, DR Congo, led by Louis Watunda Iyolo took third place, beating hosts Burkina Faso 4–1 on penalties.

At the 2000 African Cup of Nations the team finished 3rd in their group, and in 2002 were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Senegal. Then in 2004 they were eliminated by 3 straight defeats in the group stages. And then in 2006, led by Claude Le Roy, having finished second in the group behind Cameroon, were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Egypt 4–1.

Recent history

DR Congo were drawn in group 10 for qualifications for the 2008 African Cup of Nations, along with Libya, Namibia and Ethiopia. On the penultimate day DR Congo led the group, but drew 1–1 with Libya and Namibia beat Ethiopia 3–2. This sent Namibia through to the Finals, and DR Congo finished in 2nd place. DR Congo also failed to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In 2009, DR Congo won the 2009 African Championship of Nations, a competition reserved to players in domestic leagues, beating Ghana in the final. 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. In the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, DR Congo qualified from their group with 3 points and finished 2nd place in the group behind Tunisia, therefore they advanced to the quarter finals to play against their rivals Republic of Congo and they came from two goals down to win 4-2. However, they were knocked out by Ivory Coast who won 3-1 in the semi-finals. They ended up finishing third, beating Equatorial Guinea in penalties, after the third place match went 0-0 in regulation time.

Current squad

The following players were called up to the squad for the friendly game against Madagascar on 14 June 2015.
Caps and goals as of 14 June 2015, after the game against Madagascar.

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club 1GK Parfait Mandanda (1989-10-10) 10 October 1989 12 0 Charleroi 1GK Mulopo Kudimbana (1987-01-21) 21 January 1987 6 0 Anderlecht 1GK Joël Kiassumbua (1992-04-06) 6 April 1992 1 0 Wohlen 2DF Joël Kimwaki (1986-10-14) 14 October 1986 41 2 Mazembe 2DF Jean Kasusula (1986-08-05) 5 August 1986 41 0 Mazembe 2DF Chancel Mbemba Mangulu (1994-08-08) 8 August 1994 17 0 Newcastle United 2DF Gabriel Zakuani (1986-05-31) 31 May 1986 15 0 Peterborough United 2DF Christopher Oualembo (1987-01-31) 31 January 1987 9 0 Académica 2DF Chris Mavinga (1991-05-26) 26 May 1991 3 0 Troyes 2DF Fabrice N'Sakala (1990-07-21) 21 July 1990 2 0 Anderlecht 2DF Aristote Ndongala (1994-01-19) 19 January 1994 1 0 Nantes 3MF Youssouf Mulumbu (1987-01-25) 25 January 1987 33 1 Norwich City 3MF Cedrick Mabwati (1992-03-08) 8 March 1992 14 0 Columbus Crew 3MF Nzuzi Toko (1990-12-20) 20 December 1990 7 1 Eskişehirspor 3MF Wilson Kamavuaka (1990-03-29) 29 March 1990 6 0 Sturm Graz 3MF Jacques Maghoma (1987-10-23) 23 October 1987 3 1 Birmingham 3MF Paul-Jose M'Poku (1992-04-19) 19 April 1992 2 1 Chievo 3MF Michaël Nkololo (1992-11-02) 2 November 1992 1 0 Clermont 3MF Rémi Mulumba (1992-11-02) 2 November 1992 0 0 Lorient 4FW Firmin Ndombe Mubele (1994-04-17) 17 April 1994 21 3 Al Ahli SC 4FW Yannick Bolasie (1989-05-24) 24 May 1989 19 4 Crystal Palace 4FW Jeremy Bokila (1988-11-14) 14 November 1988 13 5 Guangzhou R&F 4FW Jordan Botaka (1993-06-24) 24 June 1993 5 2 Leeds United 4FW Jody Lukoki (1992-11-15) 15 November 1992 2 0 PEC Zwolle 4FW Cédric Bakambu (1991-04-11) 11 April 1991 1 0 Villareal 4FW John Tshibumbu (1989-06-01) 1 June 1989 1 0 Gazélec Ajaccio

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up to the DR Congo squad within the last 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Robert Kidiaba RET	(1976-02-01) 1 February 1976	61	0	Mazembe	2015 Africa Cup of Nations
DF	Bawaka Mabele	(1988-06-09) 9 June 1988	6	0	Vita Club	v. Iraq, March 31, 2015
DF	Rudy Makwekwe	(1994-07-27) 27 July 1994	1	0	Vita Club	v. Iraq, March 31, 2015
DF	Abel Tamata	(1990-12-05) 5 December 1990	1	0	Groningen	v. Iraq, March 31, 2015
DF	Luis Pedro Cavanda BEL	(1991-01-02) 2 January 1991	0	0	Trabzonspor	v. Iraq, March 31, 2015
DF	Jordan Ikoko	(1994-02-03) 3 February 1994	0	0	Le Havre	v. Iraq, March 31, 2015
DF	Presnel Kimpembe	(1995-08-13) 13 August 1995	0	0	Paris Saint-Germain B	vs. Iraq, March 31, 2015
DF	Issama Mpeko	(1986-03-03) 3 March 1986	37	1	Kabuscorp	2015 Africa Cup of Nations
DF	Cédric Mongongu	(1989-06-22) 22 June 1989	35	2	Eskisehirspor	2015 Africa Cup of Nations
MF	Neeskens Kebano	(1992-03-10) 10 March 1992	6	1	Charleroi	v. Iraq, March 31, 2015
MF	Nelson Munganga	(1993-07-27) 27 July 1993	6	0	Vita Club	v. Iraq, March 31, 2015
MF	Cédric Makiadi	(1984-02-23) 23 February 1984	25	2	Werder Bremen	2015 Africa Cup of Nations
MF	Lema Mabidi	(1993-06-11) 11 June 1993	18	0	Raja Casablanca	2015 Africa Cup of Nations
MF	Hervé Kage	(1989-04-10) 10 April 1989	4	0	Kortrijk	2015 Africa Cup of Nations
MF	Distel Zola	(1989-02-05) 5 February 1989	11	0	Samsunspor	2015 Africa Cup of Nations preliminary squad
FW	Yves Diba Ilunga	(1987-08-12) 12 August 1987	20	5	Free Agent	v. Iraq, March 31, 2015
FW	Dieumerci Ndongala	(1991-06-14) 14 June 1991	1	0	Charleroi	v. Iraq, March 31, 2015
FW	David Mbala	(1993-04-19) 19 April 1993	2	0	Penafiel	v. Iraq, March 31, 2015
FW	Clarck N'Sikulu	(1992-07-10) 10 July 1992	0	0	Évian	v. Iraq, March 31, 2015
FW	Hervin Ongenda	(1995-06-24) 24 June 1995	0	0	Paris Saint-Germain	v. Iraq, March 31, 2015
FW	Dieumerci Mbokani	(1985-11-22) 22 November 1985	32	16	Norwich City	2015 Africa Cup of Nations
FW	Junior Kabananga	(1989-04-04) 4 April 1989	8	1	Astana	2015 Africa Cup of Nations

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Notes

^BEL Player joined Belgium national football team.
^INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
^RET Retired from international football

Competition records

FIFA World Cup

See also: DR Congo at the FIFA World Cup

Congo
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1966	Did not enter
1970	Entry not accepted
1974	Group Stage	16th	3	0	0	3	0	14
1978	Withdrew
1982	Did not qualify
1986	Banned
1990 to 2014	Did not qualify
2018	To Be Determined
2022
Total	Group Stage	1/20	3	0	0	3	0	14

African Nations Cup

African Cup of Nations
Titles: 2 Appearances: 15
Year	Position		Year	Position		Year	Position		Year	Position
1957	Did not enter		1976	Round 1		1994	Quarter Finals		2012	Did not qualify
1959	Did not enter		1978	Did not enter		1996	Quarter Finals		2013	Round 1
1962	Did not enter		1980	Did not qualify		1998	Third place		2015	Third place
1963	Did not enter		1982	Did not qualify		2000	Round 1		2017	To be determined
1965	Round 1		1984	Withdrew		2002	Quarter Finals		2019	To be determined
1968	Champions		1986	Did not qualify		2004	Round 1		2021	To be determined
1970	Round 1		1988	Round 1		2006	Quarter Finals		2023	To be determined
1972	Fourth Place		1990	Did not qualify		2008	Did not qualify
1974	Champions		1992	Quarter Finals		2010	Did not qualify

List of coaches

• Ferenc Csanádi (1967-1968)
• Blagoje Vidinić (1974)
• Ştefan Stănculescu (1974–1976)
• Otto Pfister (1985–1989)
• Paul Bonga Bonga (1989)

• Jean-Santos Muntubila (1995)
• Muhsin Ertuğral (1995–1996)
• Jean-Santos Muntubila (1996–1997)
• Jean-Santos Muntubila (2001)
• Yuri Gavrilov (2001)

• Eugène Kabongo (2002)
• 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 Ibenge (2014–)

External links

• RSSSF archive of results
• Leopardsfoot
• Congolese football picture blog
• News.Bbc.co.uk article
• YouTube clip of Brazil free-kick incident.