Congo DR national football team

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Democratic Republic of Congo

Nickname(s)

The Leopards

Association

Fédération Congolaise
de Football-Association

Confederation

CAF (Africa)

Head coach

Henri Depireux

Top scorer

Shabani Nonda (11)

Home stadium

Stade des Martyrs

FIFA code

COD

FIFA ranking

Highest FIFA ranking

51 (September 2003)

Lowest FIFA ranking

84 (April 2007)

Elo ranking





Home colours





Away colours

First international

Belgian Congo 3-2 Northern Rhodesia

(Belgian Congo; 1948)

Congo DR 6 - 0 Mauritania

(Senegal; 11 April 1963)

Zaire 3-0 Sudan

(Cameroon; 25 February 1972)

Congo 1-0 Congo DR

(Brazzaville; 8 June 1997)

Biggest win

Congo DR 10 - 1 Zambia

Biggest defeat

Yugoslavia 9 - 0 Zaire

(Gelsenkirchen, Germany; 18 June 1974)

World Cup

Appearances

1 (First in 1974)

Best result

Round 1, 1974

African Nations Cup

Appearances

15 (First in 1965)

Best result

Winners, 1968 and 1974

The Congo DR national football team, nicknamed The Leopards, is the national team of the Democratic Republic of Congo and is controlled by the Fédération Congolaise de Football-Association. In 1974 when Congo DR was known as Zaire between (1971-1997) they were the first black African team to qualify for the world cup.

The team won two African Nations Cups: one as Congo DR (or Congo-Kinshasa) in 1968 and one as Zaire in 1974.

In 2006 the team was close to qualifying for its 2nd world cup appearance after they finished 2nd, and 5 points behind leaders Ghana in Qualifying.

1 Last and next games
2 Latest news
3 Congo DR Football Achievements
4 World Cup record
5 African Nations Cup record
6 Notable players
7 Current squad
8 Famous Coaches
9 Trivia
10 External links

Last game: Congo DR 1-1 Libya - Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo - 08 September 2007. (CAF African Nations Cup 2008)

Next game: Belgium - Congo DR - Brussels, Belgium - 26 March 2008. (Friendly)

Dr Congo have fired their manager Henri Depireux after failing to qualify the team for the African Cup of Nations for the first time in 16 years. As well as the sacking, Dr Congo have suspended 2 of their main players, Kinkela and Mbayo for the rest of their careers for a reason unknown. Olympiacos striker and Dr congo star player Lualua has also been stripped off his captaincy.

Dr Congo failed to qualify for the African Nations Cup 2008 after drawing 1-1 with Libya in the last qualifying game on the 8th September 2007. Shabani Nonda scored a penalty for Congo in the 39th minute before Libya equalised in the 51st minute. In the other group 10 game Namibia beat the home team Ethopia 3-2 after scoring a last minute goal. This win made Namibia go straight to top of Group 10 with 10 points, and making Dr Congo drop to 2nd with 9 points.

Galatasaray S.K. and Congolese Star Striker Shabani Nonda is set to return to play an important last CAN qualifying game for DR Congo against Libya on the 8th of September. Nonda has not played for his country for over 2 years, and his comeback has delighted his country.

DR Congo defeated a strong Angola team 3 - 1 with their 2nd team. The match was played on the 22nd of August 2007 in Congo's home ground, Stade de Martys, in the capital Kinshasa. Goals by Onoseke, Jean-Jacques Yemweni, and Tresor Mputu sealed a deserved 3-1 win for Dr Congo.

Central African Games : 1 Time Champion

(1981 as Zaire)

African Nations Cup : 2 Time Champion

(1968; 1974 (as Zaire))

World Cup Appearance(s) : 1 Time

(1974 as Zaire)

1930 to 1966 - Did not enter
1970 - Entry not accepted by FIFA (as Zaire)
1974 - Round 1 (as Zaire)
1978 - Withdrew (as Zaire)
1982 - Did not qualify (as Zaire)
1986 - Did not enter (as Zaire)
1990 to 2006 - Did not qualify (three as Zaire)

1957 to 1963 - Did not enter
1965 - Round 1
1968 - Champions
1970 - Round 1
1972 - Fourth place (as Zaire)
1974 - Champions (as Zaire)
1976 - Round 1 (as Zaire)
1978 - Did not enter
1980 - Did not qualify
1982 - Did not qualify
1984 - Withdrew
1986 - Did not qualify
1988 - Round 1 (as Zaire)
1990 - Did not qualify
1992 - Quarterfinals (as Zaire)
1994 - Quarterfinals (as Zaire)
1996 - Quarterfinals (as Zaire)
1998 - Third place (started qualification as Zaire)
2000 - Round 1
2002 - Quarterfinals
2004 - Round 1
2006 - Quarterfinals
2008 - Did not qualify

(September, 2007)

Goalkeepers:

Francis Chansa - Orlando Pitates
Muteba Kidiaba - TP Mazembe
Vuanda Kuenda - Cilu

Defenders:

Cyrille Mubiala Kitambala - Bloemfontein
Gabriel Zakuani - Fulham
Gladys Bokese - DCMP
Christian Kinkela - Paris FC
Herita Ilunga - Toulouse FC
Tshamalenga Kabundi - TP Mazembe
Serge Dikulu Bageta - Ajax Cape Town
Miala Nkulukuta - DCMP
Fabrice Mvemba - FC Verbroedering Dender:

Midfielders:

Zola Matumona - FC brussel
Marcel Mbayo - Lokeren
Thinyana Tshiolola - KSC Lokeren
Ngasanya Ilongo - Spartak Nalchik
Franck Matingou - SC Bastia
Mutamba Milambo - Le Havre AC
Besala Bokungu - TP Mazembe
Mputu Tresor - TP Mazembe
Matthieu Onoseke - Dragons
Kifuta - Boavista F.C.

Forwards:

Lomana Tresor LuaLua - Olympiacos
Shabani Nonda - Galatasaray
Mbala Mbuta Biscotte - SR Delemont
Blaise Lelo Mbele - Al-Hilal Football Club
Dieudonne Kalulika - Saint-Trond
Jean-Jacques Yemweni - DCMP
Dieumerci Mbokani - Standard
Tambwe Patiyo - Lokeren

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Facing a free-kick 25 yards out during the 1974 World Cup finals match against Brazil, defender Mwepu Llunga, upon hearing the referee blow his whistle, ran out of the Zaire wall and booted the ball upfield, for which he received a yellow card. This was voted the 17th greatest World Cup moment in a Channel 4 poll [1].