#22. DR Congo 🇨🇩
Population: 111,859,928
Nickname: The Leopards
Appearances: 20th
Last Appearance: 2019
Coach: Sebastien Desabre
Best AFCON results: Winners (1968,1974)
Skipper: Chancel Mbemba
Player to watch: Chancel Mbemba
Region: UNIFFAC
CAF Rankings: 13
FIFA Rankings: 67
Most caps: Issama Mpeko (81)
Most goals: Dieumerci Mbokani (22)
DR Congo has been inconsistent in the last 18 months as they sometimes look like one of the best teams and sometimes also look like they are among the poor teams on the continent.
DR Congo topped Group I of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers with a wonderful performance.
The Leopards commenced the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with a 2-0 win over Mauritania and a 1-0 defeat to Sudan.
The experience of Chancel Mbemba, Gael Kakuta and Cedric Bakambu will be very crucial to Sebastien Desabre.
The Leopards haven’t reached the semi-finals of the CAN since winning their second trophy in 1974. Expectations of the Leopards aren’t very high since DR Congo has been blowing hot and cold recently.
DR Congo is known for strength and power hence opponents must watch out for them in terms of the two qualities mentioned.
The Core of the Team
Lionel Mpasi Nzau is DR Congo’s number 1 goalkeeper.
Chancel Mebemba and Artur Masuaku will be the leaders at the back for the Leopards.
Pickel and Moutoussamy will be tasked to link the defence and the attack.
Wissa, Elia, Kakuta and Bakambu will be the main forwards for DR Congo.
Probable line up
Mpasi Nzau
Kalulu, Mbemba, Batubinsika, Masuaku,
Moutoussamy, Pickel
Elia, Wissa, Diangana
Bakambu
Notable Legends
Issama Mpeko, Dieumerci Mbokani, Lomana Lualua, Tresor Mputu, Florent Ibenge, Mwepu Ilunga,
Expectations: Quarter-finals
Fixtures
DR Congo v Zambia
Morocco v DR Congo
Tanzania v DR Congo
