The Congo national football team () represents the Republic of the Congo in men's association football and is governed by the Congolese Football Federation. They have never qualified for the World Cup, but did win the Africa Cup of Nations in 1972. They also won the All-Africa Games football tournament in 1965. The team is also a member of both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
History The Congo national football team made its first ever appearance in February 1960 in a friendly against the Ivory Coast which they lost 4–2. On 13 April, they defeated Reunion 4–1 in their first game to advance to the quarter-finals. In their quarter-final on 15 April, they defeated the Ivory Coast 3–2. On 17 April, they lost 5–4 to Cameroon and were beaten 8–1 by the host Madagascar in the third-place play-off on 19 April.
In April 1963 they entered another L'Amitié competition, this time in Senegal, and were drawn in a group with Tunisia, the Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo and Mauritania. They lost their opener 2–0 to Tunisia on 13 April but beat the Ivory Coast 3–2 the next day. On 15 April they beat their neighbour Congo Kinshasa 2–1, and then Mauritania 11–0 two days later, but did not advance to the next round.
In July 1965 the Congo held the 1965 All-Africa Games and were drawn in a group with Mali, Uganda and Togo. They drew 1–1 with Mali on 18 July and beat Uganda 2–1 the next day. On 21 July they drew 1–1 against Togo but advanced through to the semi-finals, where they beat the Ivory Coast 1–0 on 23 July. On 25 July the Congo drew 0–0 versus Mali in the final, but won the tournament by having won ten corners in the final compared to Mali's one.
On 11 January 1967 the Congo played their first non-African opposition, defeating Romania 1–0 in a home friendly. On 19 February 1967 the Congo travelled to Tunisia for their first ever African Cup of Nations qualifier, drawing 1–1. On 2 August 1967 they hosted a qualifier against Cameroon, and defeated them 2–1 to top their qualifying group and advance to their first finals.
The finals were held in Ethiopia in January 1968 and the Congo were drawn in a group with their neighbour Zaire, Senegal and Ghana. They lost the opener to Zaire 3–0 on 12 January and two days later lost 2–1 to Senegal. On 16 January the Congo were defeated 3–1 by Ghana and were knocked out.
The Congo hosted a friendly against Romania for the second successive year on 16 June 1968 and won 4–2. On 30 July 1968 they played their first ever South American opposition, losing a home friendly 2–0 to Brazil.
In 1972, the Congo won their only African Cup of Nations title. Congo defeated host Cameroon in the semi-final 1–0 before beating Mali 3–2 to claim the championship. On that squad was arguably Congo's most famous player, François M'Pelé, who starred for PSG in the 1970s.
In qualification for the 1998 World Cup, the Congo came within a win of qualifying for the final tournament. However, after home wins over Zambia, DR Congo and South Africa, Congo lost their final match 1–0 away to South Africa and was eliminated.
In February 2025 Congo was suspended from international competitions by FIFA due to "third-party interference" in FECOFOOT - Congolese football's governing body.
Results and fixtures
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
2025
2026
2027
Coaching staff Position NameHead coach Claude Le RoyAssistant coach Omar DafGoalkeeping coach Gérald MbandakaFitness coach Formose KimbutaMatch analyst François MpangaDoctors Dr. Stéphane Mavungu Dr. Gervais TchibindaPhysiotherapists Aurélien Kimpembe Maurice Mvoungou Loïc Kimbela Jérôme TchukaTeam coordinator Hervé NgoloTechnical director Maxime Nzassi
Coaching history
Players
Current squad The following players were called-up for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Namibia and Cameroon on 24 and 29 September 2026; respectively.
Caps and goals are correct as of 13 October 2025, after the match against Morocco
Recent call-ups The following players were called up for Congo in the last 12 months.
DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up. INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury. PRE Preliminary squad. RET Player has retired from international football. SUS Suspended from the national team.
Records
Players in bold are still active with Congo.
Most appearances
RankPlayerCapsGoalsCareer1 Jonas Bahamboula 56 13 1969–1982 Delvin N'Dinga 56 1 2008–2021 3 Destin Makita 55 1 2001–2013 4 Barel Mouko 51 1 2004–2018 5 Magnoléké Bissiki 45 0 2012–2021 6 Oscar Ewolo 44 2 2000–2013 7 Prince Oniangué 43 8 2008–20198 Thievy Bifouma 41 16 2014–2023 Francis N'Ganga 41 3 2008–201710 Christoffer Mafoumbi 38 0 2012–present Brice Samba 38 0 1990–2001
Top goalscorers
RankPlayerGoalsCapsRatioCareer 1 Thievy Bifouma 16 41 2014–2023 2 Jonas Bahamboula 13 56 1969–1982 3 François M'Pelé 12 29 1971–1978 4 Paul Moukila 11 31 1970–19785 Anges Ngapy 10 33 1984–1993 Férébory Doré 10 37 2010–20177 Jean-Jacques N'Domba 8 35 1974–1992 Prince Oniangué 8 43 2008–20199 Kader Bidimbou 5 13 2014–2023 Guy Mbenza 5 21 2017–2023 Rolf-Christel Guié-Mien 5 25 1996–2008 Hardy Binguila 5 29 2013–2023 Silvère Ganvoula 5 29 2014–present Fabrice Ondama 5 37 2006–2017
Competition records
FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup recordQualification recordYearRoundPosition*1930 to 1958Part of Part of as 1962Not a FIFA memberNot a FIFA member 1966Entry not accepted by FIFAEntry not accepted by FIFAas 1970Did not enterDid not enter 1974Did not qualify201123 1978411278 1982Did not enterDid not enter 1986 1990as 1994Did not qualify400405 1998842286 2002103251017 2006124261215 2010630378 20148431134 201882241116 20226033510 20268017424 2030To be determinedTo be determined 2034Total7621173879116
Africa Cup of Nations Africa Cup of Nations recordYearRoundPosition 1957Part of 1959Played as 1962Not affiliated to CAF 1963 1965 1968Group stage7th300328Played as 1970Did not enter 1972Winners1st531197 1974Fourth place4th5212710 1976Did not qualify 1978Group stage7th301214 1980Did not qualify 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990Did not enterPlayed as 1992Quarter-finals5th302123 1994Did not qualify 1996 1998 2000Group stage11th301202 2002Did not qualify 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2013 2015Quarter-finals5th421166 2017Did not qualify 2019 2021 2023 2025 2027To be determined 2028Total1 Title7/352677122740
African Games
African Games recordYearResultPldWDLGFGA 1965Gold5311115 19736th310258Total2/484131613
Honours Continental CAF African Cup of Nations Champions (1): 1972 African Games1 Gold medal (1): 1965
Regional CEMAC Cup Champions (2): 2007, 2010 Runners-up (2): 2008, 2014 Third place (2): 2003, 2013 UDEAC Championship Champions (1): 1990 Runners-up (2): 1984, 1985 Third place (2): 1986, 1988 Central African Games Silver medal (2): 1976, 1981 Bronze medal (1): 1987
Summary Competition TotalCAF African Cup of Nations1001Total 1 0 0 1 Notes Competition organized by ANOCA, officially not recognized by FIFA.
References
External links
Congo at CAF Congo at FIFA