Congo DR national football team

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Nickname(s)	The Leopards
Association	FECOFA
Sub-confederation	UNIFFAC (Central Africa)
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Head coach	Claude Le Roy
Home stadium	Stade des Martyrs
FIFA code	COD
FIFA ranking	133
Highest FIFA ranking	51 (September 2003)
Lowest FIFA ranking	133 (October 2011)
Elo ranking	100
Highest Elo ranking	20 (March 1974)
Lowest Elo ranking	111 (September 2010)
Home colours Away colours
First international
Belgian Congo 3–2 Northern Rhodesia  (Belgian Congo; 1948)
Biggest win
Congo DR 10–1 Zambia  (Kinshasa, Congo DR; 22 November 1969)
Biggest defeat
Yugoslavia 9–0 Zaire (Gelsenkirchen, Germany; 18 June 1974)
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 Congo DR 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), and are nicknamed The Leopards.

Congo have been ranked as high as 51 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. 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. Congo won the match 6–0.^[1]

Glory period

The Democratic Republic of Congo (then known as Congo-Kinshasa) 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 black African team to participate in a FIFA World Cup. At the 1974 FIFA World Cup Zaire were very disappointing. The team did not win a game or score any goals. Their 9–0 defeat against Yugoslavia still remains a World Cup record defeat. 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,^[2] though many commentators held it to be an example of African football's "naivety and indiscipline".^[3] 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 rightful earnings.^[4]

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 8th 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

Congo DR were drawn in group 10 for qualifications for the 2008 African Cup of Nations, along with Libya, Namibia and Ethiopia. On the penultimate day Congo DR led the group, but drew 1–1 with Libya and Namibia beat Ethiopia 3–2. This sent Namibia through to the Finals, and Congo DR finished in 2nd place. Congo DR also failed to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In 2009 Congo DR won the 2009 African Championship of Nations beating Ghana in the final.

Current squad

0#0 Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club GK Mulopo Kudimbana 21 January 1987 (1987-01-21) (age 24) 4 0 Cercle Brugge GK Yves Ma-Kalambay 31 January 1986 (1986-01-31) (age 25) 4 0 Free Agent DF Cédric Mongongu 22 June 1989 (1989-06-22) (age 22) 9 0 Evian DF Joël Sami 13 November 1984 (1984-11-13) (age 27) 6 0 Nancy DF Christian Kinkela 25 May 1982 (1982-05-25) (age 29) 5 0 Ajaccio DF Larrys Mabiala 8 August 1987 (1987-08-08) (age 24) 9 0 Nice DF Christopher Mfuyi 3 July 1989 (1989-07-03) (age 22) 2 0 Valenciennes DF Assani Lukimya-Mulongoti 25 January 1986 (1986-01-25) (age 25) 2 0 Fortuna Düsseldorf DF Gabriel Zakuani 31 May 1986 (1986-05-31) (age 25) 1 0 Peterborough United DF Hérita Ilunga 25 February 1982 (1982-02-25) (age 29) 32 1 West Ham United DF Rodrigue Dikaba 28 October 1985 (1985-10-28) (age 26) 10 0 Beauvais DF Gladys Bokese 12 September 1981 (1981-09-12) (age 30) 25 0 Motema Pembe DF Miala Nkulukutu 6 September 1982 (1982-09-06) (age 29) 18 0 Mazembe DF Joël Kimwaki 14 October 1986 (1986-10-14) (age 25) 4 0 Mazembe MF Yannick Bapupa 21 January 1982 (1982-01-21) (age 29) 4 0 Free Agent MF René Makondele 20 April 1982 (1982-04-20) (age 29) 7 1 Häcken MF Marcel Kimemba Mbayo 23 April 1978 (1978-04-23) (age 33) 31 3 Free Agent MF Tico 12 December 1980 (1980-12-12) (age 30) 36 1 Lokeren MF Zola Matumona 26 November 1981 (1981-11-26) (age 29) 30 7 Mons MF Cedric 8 March 1992 (1992-03-08) (age 19) 4 0 Numancia MF Cedric Makiadi 23 February 1984 (1984-02-23) (age 27) 8 2 Freiburg MF Distel Zola 5 February 1989 (1989-02-05) (age 22) 2 0 Nancy MF Mutamba Milambo 1 January 1984 (1984-01-01) (age 27) 26 0 Cannes MF Toko Nzuzi 20 December 1990 (1990-12-20) (age 20) 2 0 Grasshopper MF Bedi Mbenza 11 November 1984 (1984-11-11) (age 27) 4 2 Mazembe MF Eric Bokanga 9 October 1988 (1988-10-09) (age 23) 3 0 Mazembe MF Jacques Maghoma 23 October 1987 (1987-10-23) (age 24) 3 2 Burton Albion MF Steve Zakuani 9 February 1988 (1988-02-09) (age 23) 1 0 Seattle Sounders FW Lomana LuaLua 28 December 1980 (1980-12-28) (age 30) 27 6 Blackpool FW Lelo Mbele 10 August 1987 (1987-08-10) (age 24) 12 1 Free Agent FW Shabani Nonda 6 March 1977 (1977-03-06) (age 34) 21 14 Free Agent FW Dieumerci Mbokani 22 October 1985 (1985-10-22) (age 26) 15 5 Anderlecht FW Trésor Mputu 10 December 1985 (1985-12-10) (age 25) 22 7 Mazembe FW Serge Lofo Bongeli 14 April 1980 (1980-04-14) (age 31) 4 0 Free Agent

Competition records

FIFA World Cup

See also: Congo DR at the FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1966	Did mot enter
1970	Entry not accepted[5]
1974	Group Stage	16th	3	0	0	3	0	14
1978	Withdrew
1982	Did not qualify
1986	Did not enter
1990 to 2010	Did not qualify
2014	To Be Determined
2018
2022
Total	Group Stage	1/19	3	0	0	3	0	14

African Nations Cup

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

List of coaches

Blagoja Vidinić (1974) Ştefan Stănculescu (1974–1975) Otto Pfister (1985–1989) Jean-Santos Muntubila (1995)

Muhsin Ertuğral (1995–1996) Jean-Santos Muntubila (1996–1997) Jean-Santos Muntubila (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–)

References

1. ^ Courtney, Barrie (14 June 2007). "DR Congo (Zaire, Congo-Kinshasa) – List of International Matches". FRSSF. http://www.rsssf.com/tablesz/zaire-intres.html. Retrieved 10 November 2010. 
2. ^ Explore – Channel 4
3. ^ The Joy of Six: Symbolic reducers, including Roy Keane, Norman Whiteside and Benjamin Massing | Football | guardian.co.uk
4. ^ BBC Sport – Football – Zaire free-kick farce explained
5. ^ "History of the FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition (by year)". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. http://es.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/mcwc/fifaworldcuppreliminaryhistory_byyear__13876.pdf. Retrieved 2011-11-16. 

External links

• RSSSF archive of results
• Leopardsfoot
• Congolese football picture blog
• BBC blog article
• YouTube clip of Brazil free-kick incident.