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Democratic Republic of Congo
Nickname(s)	The Leopards
Association	Fédération Congolaise; de Football-Association
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Head coach	Patrice Neveu
Top scorer	Shabani Nonda (32)
Home stadium	Stade des Martyrs
FIFA code	COD
FIFA ranking	112
Highest FIFA ranking	51 (September 2003)
Lowest FIFA ranking	118 (September 2009)
Elo ranking	93
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	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. Congo are currently 96th in the FIFA Rankings, but have reached 51 in the rankings before. As Zaire they were the first black African team to qualify for the World Cup.

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.

[edit] 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 afflicted since 1962 and has been a member of CAF since 1963. The teams first official played on the 11 April 1963, against Maurintania. Congo won the match 8–0, recording their first victory in their first game. The team is nicknamed the The Leopards.

[edit] Glory period

The Democratic Republic of Congo (Congo-Kinshasa then) won his first international success at the 1968 African Cup of Nations (In Ethiopia) Beating Ghana 1-0 in the final. The teams biggest ever win came on the 22nd November 1969 when they recorded a 10–1 home victory against Zambia. From 1971 to 1997 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 fellow finalists Zambia 2–2. Therefor the match was replayed two days later, where Ziare won the game 2–0. Also Zaire player Mulamba Ndaye was top scorer with 9 goals. After this, the team returned to Ziare by Presidential Plane, left to them by Mobutu Sese Seko. More importantly, 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 score line defeat.

[edit] Crisis period

After winning the 1974 African Cup of Nations and partisipating 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. In the 1988 African Cup of Nations Zaire finished last in their group despite having 2 draws.

[edit] Return to success

From 1992 to 1996, Zaire, reached three consecutive African Cup of Nations quarter-finals. In 1992 and 1994 they were beat by Nigeria, and in 1996 they were beat by Ghana. In 1997 the name changed to Congo DR. Congo DR 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 2002 African Cup of Nations the team finished 3rd in thir group, and in 2002 they 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.

[edit] Present day

In group 10 the qualifications of the 2008 African Cup of Nations, composed of 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.

[edit] World Cup record

Year	Round	Position	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
1930 to 1970	Did not enter
1974	Round 1	16	3	0	0	3	0	14
1978 to 1982	Did not qualify
1986	Did not enter
1990 to 2010	Did not qualify
Total	1/18		3	0	0	3	0	14

[edit] African Nations Cup record

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

[edit] Current squad

The following players were called for 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification against Malawi on October 11, 2008.

No.	Pos.	Player	DoB (Age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	GK	Muteba Kidiaba	1 February 1976 (1976-02-01) (age 33)	7	0	TP Mazembe
2	DF	Cédric Mongongu	22 June 1989 (1989-06-22) (age 20)	6	0	AS Monaco
3	MF	Yannick Bapupa	21 January 1982 (1982-01-21) (age 27)	3	0	Kalmar FF
4	MF	Tsholola Tshinyama	12 December 1980 (1980-12-12) (age 28)	14	1	KSC Lokeren
5	DF	Larrys Mabiala	8 August 1987 (1987-08-08) (age 22)	8	0	OGC Nice
6	DF	Gabriel Zakuani	31 May 1986 (1986-05-31) (age 23)	1	0	Peterborough United F.C.
7	MF	Youssuf Mulumbu	1 January 1987 (1987-25-01) (age 21)	8	0	West Bromwich Albion F.C.
8	FW	Tresor Mputu	10 December 1985 (1985-12-10) (age 23)	2	1	TP Mazembe
9	FW	Lomana LuaLua	28 December 1980 (1980-12-28) (age 28)	31	18	Ali-Arabi
10	FW	Ndjoli Bukungu	29 July 1986 (1986-07-29) (age 23)	0	0	APR FC
11	FW	Marcel Kimemba Mbayo	23 April 1978 (1978-04-23) (age 31)	4	0	KSC Lokeren
12	DF	Miala Nkulukutu	6 September 1982 (1982-09-06) (age 27)	5	0	TP Mazembe
13	FW	Dieumerci Mbokani	6 September 1982 (1982-09-06) (age 27)	10	8	Standard Liège
14	FW	Serge Lofo	14 April 1980 (1980-04-14) (age 29)	2	0	AS Vita Club
15	DF	Hérita Ilunga	25 February 1982 (1982-02-25) (age 27)	18	0	West Ham United F.C.
16	GK	Parfait Mandanda	10 November 1989 (1989-11-10) (age 20)	3	0	AS Beauvais Oise
17	FW	Lelo Mbele	10 August 1987 (1987-08-10) (age 22)	6	1	Al-Hilal Omdurman
18	DF	Gladys Bokese	12 September 1981 (1981-09-12) (age 28)	9	1	Daring Club Motema Pembe

[edit] Background

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 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].

Ndaya Mulamba still holds the record for most goals scored in a single African Cup of Nations tournament. (9 goals in 1974)

Three players based in the English Premier League were born in Congo, although two have chosen to play international football for their adopted countries: Herita Illunga of West Ham United plays for CongoDR, but Leroy Lita (who has not won a cap for the England first team but has played for the under-21s) and José Bosingwa (Portugal) do not. Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda was also born in Congo but decided to play for France, though his younger brother Parfait Mandanda plays for the team.

[edit] External links

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