Absent from the previous edition in Cameroon, the DR Congo will play their 20th Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d'Ivoire. The Leopards reached the last 8 in 2019. They will be aiming to go one better at this edition. Sport News Africa tells you more about the DRC.
The country
Capital: Kinshasa
Surface area: 2,345,410 km2
Population: 102262808
Official language: French
Inhabitants : Congolese
Motto: Justice, Peace, Work
Team nickname: Leopards
DR Congo and the AFCON
Title: 2
Final: 2
Appearances prior to AFCON 2023: 19
Host country: 0
AFCON history
1965: First round
1968: Winner
1970: First round
1972: Semi-final
1974: Winner
1976: First round
1988: First round
1992: Quarter-final
1994: Quarter-final
1996: Quarter-final
1998: semi-final
2000: First round
2002: Quarter-final
2004: First round
2006: Quarter-final
2013: first round
2015: semi-final
2017: Quarter-finals
2019: Round of 16
🇨🇩📝Sébastien Desabre a décidé de faire appel à 24 joueurs pour la #CAN2023 !
On note le retour de Dylan Batubinsika et Arthur Masuaku.
Les grands absents de cette liste sont :Jackson Muleka, Neeskens Kebano, Mukoko Amale et William Balikwisha !#TotalEnergiesAFCON #football pic.twitter.com/V2nY7iLLvV
— Sport News Africa (@snewsafrica) December 27, 2023
AFCON record
66 matches
19 wins
20 draws
27 defeats
84 goals scored
97 goals conceded
The star: Chancel Mbemba
Chancel Mbemba, captain of DR Congo
At 29, Chancel Mbemba is considered one of the best defenders in the world. The Leopards captain plays for Olympique de Marseille after spells with Anderlecht, Newcastle and Porto. He joined OM in 2022 after 3 exceptional seasons with the Portuguese club. Since then, Memba has reached another level. Awarded the Prix Marc Vivien Foé 2023, he also finished in the French Ligue 1 team of the year.
With the national team, his qualities and leadership have convinced everyone. He joined the national team in 2012, and has since won 74 caps, including 3rd place at the 2015 African Cup of Nations. In Côte d'Ivoire, he will attempt to guide the Leopards to the title after an extraordinary qualifying campaign.
The coach: Sébastien Desabre
A 47-year-old French technician, Sébastien Desabre is no stranger to the African continent. He has coached a number of African clubs, including ASEC Mimosas, Coton Sport, ES Tunis, Wydad Casablanca and Pyramids FC.
In 2022, he was appointed head coach of the DRC national team. A few months later, he managed to qualify the Leopards for the final phase of the 2023 African Cup of Nations. The Congolese, who had missed out on the previous edition in Cameroon, found a savior in him. The coach has won 5 matches, drawn one and won 2 since taking charge of the national team. He has also succeeded in bringing determination back into the team.This will be his first experience as head coach at the AFCON in Côte d'Ivoire.
RD Congo's schedule in Group F
January 17: DR Congo - Zambia
January 21: Morocco - DR Congo
January 24: Tanzania - DR Congo
