AFCON 2025: All you need to know about DR Congo

The country
Capital: Kinshasa

Area: 2.345 million km 2

Population: 109.3 million

Official language: French

Motto: Justice, Peace, Work

Inhabitants: Congolese/ Congolese

Nickname of the team: les Léopards

The DR Congo and the AFCON
Title(s): 2

Final (s): 2

Participations before AFCON 2025: 21

Course at the AFCON
1965: 1st round

1968: Winner

1970: 1st round

1972: Semi-final

1974: Winner

1976: 1st round

1988: 1st round

1992: 1⁄4 of final

1994: 1⁄4 of final

1996: 1⁄4 of final

1998: 1⁄2 final

2000: 1st round

2002: 1⁄4 of final

2004: 1st round

2006: 1⁄4 of final

2013: 1st round

2015: 1⁄2 final

2017: 1⁄4 of final

2019: 1/8th finals

2023: 1⁄2 final

Assessment at the AFCON
78 matches

20 victories

31 nuls

27 defeats

94 goals scored

93 goals conceded

Chancel Mbemba, the rock and the guide

Semi-finalist at the 2023 AFCON in Côte d'Ivoire, the DR Congo is also qualified for the intercontinental play-offs for the 2026 World Cup, after defeating Nigeria during the African playoffs. Suffice to say that the Congolese team is currently part of the best selections of the continent for several months. The quality of the group is also to be highlighted. despite the absence of Yoane Wissa, who has still not played with Newcastle this season, the Leopards have in their ranks players envied by all the other selections with Tuanzebe, Wan Bissaka, Moutoussamy, Bongonda, Bakambu.

All these names come together around a leader, a guide: Chancel Mbemba. The defender, today in Lille, embodies all the values of the DR Congo: talent, character, and ability to sublimate in difficulty. The 31-year-old, who has 101 caps (7 goals), will play his 6th AFCON. He is also the Congolese player with the most AFCON games played, but also the one with the most selections.

Sébastien Desabre, the architect of a revival

If the DRC has regained the heights of African football, it is mainly thanks to its coach, Sébastien Desabre. The Frenchman took the lead from the DRC in August 2022. He continued with a semi-final at the 2023 AFCON in Côte d'Ivoire. Above all, all the opponents always come up against a waterproof block, capable of suffering, but also to sting at any moment. Then, during the qualifiers for the World Cup, the Leopards held against Senegal with a draw in Dakar (1-1) and a short defeat 2-3 in Kinshasa. His record with the Leopards is also edifying: 23 wins, 8 draws, 9 defeats.

on the African stage, Sébastien Desabre had already made a name for himself with Uganda whom he led in the 1/8th final. His wonderful journey in 2023 in Côte d'Ivoire and the quality of the Congolese team clearly show his side. He has indeed managed to combine the talent of the team with his touch. «It is not only individual talent that makes a team win, but also cohesion and collective discipline. It is in this spirit that we are moving forward," he said.

DR Congo is placed in group D with Senegal, Benin and Botswana. Suffice to say that the Leopards will still be part of the teams to beat.