Congo national football team

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

Main article: Congo national football team results (2020–present)

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2024

• Mutyaba

2025

Awarded Awarded

Coaching staff

Coaching history

• CGO Paul Ebondzibato (1962–1964)
• USSR Vasily Sokolov (1964–1965)
• CGO Paul Ebondzibato (1965–1970)
• CGO Adolphe Bibanzoulou (1970–1973)
• CGO Robert Ndoudi (1973–1974)
• ROU Cicerone Manolache (1974–1976)
• YUG Zoran Ristić (1984)
• FRA Yvon Goujon (1986–1987)
• CGO Noël Minga (1992–1993, 2001)
• CGO David Mémy (1997–1998)
• CGO Alain Nestor Ngouinda (1998–1999)
• CGO David Mémy (1999–2000)
• CGO Camille Ngakosso (2000)
• CGO Gaston Tchangana (2001, 2005–2006, 2007–2008)
• ROM Eugen Moldovan (2001–2002)
• CGO Alain Nestor Ngouinda (2002)
• SUI Claude Andrey (2002–2003)
• NED Tahseen Jabbary (2002–2003)
• FRA Jean-Paul Bernard (2003)
• FRA Christian Létard (2004–2005)
• FRA Noël Tosi (2006–2007)
• SRB Ivica Todorov (2008–2010)
• FRA Robert Corfou (2010–2011)
• CGO Camille Ngakosso (2011)
• FRA Jean-Guy Wallemme (2011–2012)
• FRA Kamel Djabour (2012–2013)
• FRA Claude Le Roy (2013–2015)
• FRA Pierre Lechantre (2016)
• CGO Barthélémy Ngatsono (2016–2017)
• FRA Sébastien Migné (2017–2018)
• BRA Valdo Filho (2018–2021)
• Belgium Paul Put (2021–2023)
• FRA Isaac Ngata (2023–2025)
• CGO Barthélémy Ngatsono (2025–Present)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called-up for the 2025 AFCON qualification matches against South Sudan and Uganda on 14 and 19 November 2024 respectively.

Caps and goals are correct as of 19 November 2024, after the match against Uganda

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

!W !D* !L !GF !GA !Pld !W !D !L !GF !GA |-

Africa Cup of Nations

African Games

Honours

Continental

• CAF African Cup of Nations
  • [[File:Coppa Africa.svg|22px]] Champions (1): 1972
• African Games****1
  • [[File:Gold medal africa.svg|15px]] 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

;Notes

1. Competition organized by ANOCA, officially not recognized by FIFA.

Notes

References

References

1. "World Football Elo Ratings".
2. (23 December 2013). "Congo (Brazzaville) - List of International Matches". Rec. Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation.
3. "FIFA suspends the Congolese Football Association and the Pakistan Football Federation". FIFA.
4. (6 February 2025). "Suspension of the Congolese Football Association (FECOFOOT) from 6 February 2025 until further notice".
5. "Scores & Fixtures". FIFA.
6. Mamrud, Roberto. "Congo-Brazzaville – Record International Players".