DRC Performances at the African Cup of Nations -AFCON Finals
2025 AFCON edition will be remembered as the Democratic Republic of Congo’s 20th appearance at the finals of this prestigious championship under the African football governing body – CAF auspices. In refreshing the collective memory, it is useful to rehash the torrents of the country’s football paths, spreading its qualifications out according to the DRC various names changes throughout history.
The drought for a third continental title sticks to the Leopards’ skin such a leech. Yesteryear, the DRC national team instilled a blue fear in the skin of its opponents, unlike today since the very national team seems to consist of felines devoid of sharp and piercing canines for some. Others attribute this absence of triumphant pugnacity to various policies and strategies that have failed in managing football at the national level. If winning the AFCON twice in 19 appearances (pending Morocco 2025) is an outrageous downside, it was at their 15th attempt that the Senegal’s Lions of Teranga got hands on their only continental trophy in 2022. Pointless to shelve statistics against the DRC carnivores in view of credentials recorded by some football powerhouses such as Zambia who has one title only in 18 AFCONs, Tunisia, one title in 21 AFCONs not forgetting Morocco, only one title in 20 AFCONs, save for 2015 edition when the kingdom was disqualified for refusing to host AFCON for which they were rightfully entitled to that year because of the Ebola virus outbreak. Equatorial Guinea took over and hosted a successful tournament. Stammerings and shenanigans that the Leopards do go through have never got the better of their tenacity to break through and reach the pinnacle. Sometimes they braved dehumanizing conditions humans would sustain barley. In view of the DRC national team genesis, the world remains witness to the evolution, though awkwardly, of the Leopards in their quest for their third continental star that has eluded them for decades.
From 1885 to 1908: The country as EIC – (CFS )Congo Free State
The King of Belgium, King Leopold II made the country his private property after the Berlin Conference, The country was placed under King Leopold II guardianship or tutorship. The country could not endeavour in undertaking initiatives without the approval of its guardian. A feudalism that covered the entire country to deprive its population of realizing the world wonders and vanities, including football. The African continent being under occupation, football was only an unthinkable distant illusion.
From 1908 to 1960: The country as Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo – BC came about existing from a legacy that King Leopold II bequeathed to the Belgian Parliament in 1908. The year during which the country found itself under the yoke of colonization through inventiveness of a fallacious pretext of 3 C. C: colonization; C: Christianity and C: civilization. Although football had officially been practiced on the continent, the colonized Congo, however, had begun to move on makeshift football fields, for the most part, which attracted crowds. Football is one of the incubating factors leading up to the political uprising known as the Independence Martyrs on January 4, 1959. This fateful day accentuated the irreversible call for independence which was gained in 1960 finally.
From 1960 to 1964: The Republic of Congo
An era marked by the independence granting in 1960. Over this period, Congo did not take part in any of AFCON finals. However, the Confederation of African Football had already been created in 1957 and three AFCONs finals were hosted in 1957, 1959 and 1963. Marred by institutions frivolity and the fragility of a newly acquired democracy, while feeling the pain of implementation thereof, the country did not favour the sporting aspect in all its forms.
From 1964 to 1971: The First Republic – the Democratic Republic of Congo
The revenge bell had sounded with the birth of the new republic. At its first AFCON appearance in 1965 in Tunisia, the DRC was eliminated in the round robin stage. Experience at this level of the competition was a gangrene in the local voracious sporting appetites. The Congolese were discovering the harsh realities of the competition at high level. In 1968, three years later, the DRC forgot its stumbling beginnings as a rookie to clinch the much coveted AFCON trophy by beating Ghana with a thunderbolt unleashed by late Kalala Mukendi in the final. Against all odds the DRC won the title at their second attempt amazingly.
But the demons of 1965 would resurface to haunting the Congolese national team as they were eliminated in the first round of the AFCON finals hosted in Sudan in 1970. The first republic sent the national team to AFCON finals three times: 1965, 1968 (African champion) and 1970.
From 1971 to 1997: The Republic of Zaire
The political cards thus reshuffled, the Zaire national team has qualified for the 1972 AFCON in Cameroon, which was won by the Red Devils of Congo-Brazzaville against Mali. The Malian side was led by late Salif Keita and Fantamady Keita (top goal scorer of the tournament) who had beaten Zaire in the semi-final 4-3. The Leopards of Zaire finished the tournament 4th, narrowly missing out on the podium last place. A certain Blagoje Vidinic who had qualified Morocco for the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, could not escape the blitz of covetousness as shown by the African football world, including Mobutu. The Zairean Marshal, obsessed by the grandeur madness to strengthen his power, convinced the Yugoslav coach to become the Leopards manager. Mission accomplished because two years later, the DRC won the second glorious star.
In Egypt, the pharaohs’ land, the Leopards of Zaire outclassed Chitalu’s Zambia by 2-0 to win the trophy and rise to the pantheon of glory. The Leopards had beaten the host country, Egypt in the semi-final with Hassan Shehata, AFCON best player in Egypt 74 in its midst. Once Shehata was appointed the Pharaohs coach, this former Zamalek player offered his country three continental titles in 2006, 2008 and 2010 in row before the Arab Spring broke the heroes “momentum”.
The 1974 AFCON edition is rich in events; it is the only AFCON final that was played in two games after a draw (2-2) was recorded in the first game. CAF did not plan for the penalty shootout for this final, another game was scheduled and played two days later. It was a recital signed Ndaye Mulamba Mutumbula who scored a brace and allowed Zaire to beat Zambia 2-0 to win the Egyptian AFCON. Ndaye passed away on January 26, 2019 in a private clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Also, the Chipolopolo country– Zambia, had removed the doubts’ lock as AFCON 1974 was their maiden appearance in the history of Zambia. A first qualification that had led the nation to play in the final of such a grandiose continental competition as the African Cup of Nations.
Automatically, Moseka – the Congolese name given to the continental title by Zaire qualified the country for the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany. Thus, Zaire became the only African representative and the first nation to represent black Africa – sub-Saharan Africa at a FIFA World Cup. Egypt and Morocco had already tasted the delicious delights by representing the continent in 1934 and 1970 respectively.
Godfrey Chitalu is considered by Zambian sports authorities to be the best goal scorer of all time in a year. The Chitalu controversy wreck havoc in 2012 when Argentinian Lionel Messi, then a Barcelona player, scored 88 goals in a year. The Europeans (as usual) thought that Messi had done better than German Gerd Mueller with his 85 goals in a footballing year, unaware of Godfrey Chitalu 104 goals at his tally. Do not put the blame on them as facts in Africa are not sufficiently documented and archived. But these mitigating circumstances do not excuse them from failing in their duty to undertake investigations in order to confirm or deny the supposedly proven facts.
AFCON 1976 in Morocco, Zaire failed to win a single game, getting the wooden spoon in Group B behind Morocco (AFCON winner), Nigeria and Sudan. The Leopards collected a meagre point only– an achievement not up to their pedigree. The dread of the inexplicable and unexplained effects of the West German World Cup, coupled with the uproar within the technical staff, following Vidinc departure, was so bewitching that no reason was given to justify the rout, two years after the continental triumph. AFCON 1976 is an edition whose winner was designated following a mini-championship.
From 1976 to 1988, or 5 AFCON editions (1978, 1980, 1982, 1984 and 1986), Zaire fell short to qualify for any AFCON finals over that period. Twelve years down the line were a bitter pill to swallow for Congolese football fans. The Zairians were unanimous that it was the shepherd’s answer to the shepherdess. The pay-back time called by the ancestors was finally due. The Leopards would have been the recipients of bad luck in response to the forced and compulsory contribution levied by authorities in support of the Leopards on the way to the 1974 World Cup. Zaireans of all ages were ransomed to a financial contribution; a certain amount was deducted from civil servants salaries to sustain efforts thereof; pupils and students were not spared. They had to pay a lump sum starting from 1 Likuta, the monetary unit of the time.
The lifeline will come with the appointment of Otto Fischer as coach of the Zaire’s Leopards. This West German was sent to Kinshasa as part of the bilateral cooperation between Kinshasa and Bonn. Was this the resurrection?
It is the generation of Kabongo Eugene, Santos Djalma Mutubile, Lutonadio “Morceau”, Merikani Mpangi, Kalau, Kanu, Emedo Nkongolo …, who had represented Zaire at the 1988 AFCON, the first in 12 years in Morocco. Absent from AFCONs since Morocco 1976, it was in Morocco where the Leopards returned to competition. The draw had given its verdict that the Zairian felines would be in Group A with the host country, Morocco led by their Maestro Aziz Bouderballa and a Mustapha Biaz as the Babel Tower in the rear guard lines. Algeria and Cote d’Ivoire of Abdoulaye Traoré, Serge Alain Maguy, Youssouf Fofana, Didier Otokoré and Alain Gouaméné. The Beninese referee Hugues Joseph Mongbo had set himself up as the executioner of the Zairians. On two occasions, Zaire was denied 2 goals, thus allowing Algeria of Nasser Drid (excellent goalkeeper) and Djamel Menad to win the tie 1-0. The team acumen and determination proved insufficient to reach the quarter finals and justify its great return among the crème de la crème. Zaire failed to qualify for the 1990 AFCON that Madjer’s Algeria, the host country, had won, Zaire was in Senegal for the final phase of the AFCON. At this AFCON finals, CAF increased the number of qualified team from 8 to 12. The crop of 1988 having already bowed out internationally for the most part, it was a new team commanded by Kalala Mukendi, champion in 1968, as coach. The Zairian wild beasts were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Yekini Rashidi’s Nigeria.
During the 1994 AFCON hosted by Tunisia for the second time after 1965, same chorus as in the previous edition. It was again Yekini Rashidi’s Nigeria who evaporated the Zairians’ wishes for a first semi-final since 1974. The result of this quarter-final put an end to the team and players’ aspirations of Bulayima Mukwayanzo, a player of Feynoord Rotterdam B side then, Dinga Mbote, Lokose Epanga to stay in the competition and make the deadlines last. They packed their bags for an early return home.
Two year later, South Africa had gained the rights to host the 1996 AFCON. The number of qualified teams had been revised upwardly, going from 12 to 16, whereas two years earlier, the rainbow nation had organized its first multiracial elections to get rid of the apartheid segregationist regime. Things were moving at the pace of an Exocet missile that CAF leaders could not, for anything in the world, miss the opportunity to rub shoulders with Nelson Mandela, the new president of the multiracial and multi-coloured republic. At this South African AFCON edition, the Zaire of Kasongo Korando, Roger Hitoto and others, revealed itself to the world with the phenomenon named Emeka Mamale alias “Zorino”. He came into play in the second half against George Weah and James Debbah’s Liberia at the legendary FNB Stadium in the vicinity of SOWETO (South West Town) where he dazzled the public with his legendary devastating technique. Coached by the Turkish Mushin Ertugal, Zaire had done everything to reach the quarter-finals for the third consecutive time. If in the first two quarter-finals attempts, the Leopards fell victim to Nigeria, this time, they couldn’t enhance their game to beat Ghana Black Stars with a fearsome Antony Yeboah who was a thorn in their flesh.
From 1997 up to now: Third Republic – the Democratic Republic of Congo
The change of regime that occurred at the power level with the advent of the new President of the Republic Laurent Désiré Kabila, had plunged the country into abysmal uncertainty. Zaire thus became the Democratic Republic of Congo; the national team the Leopards became the Simbas “Lions” in Swahili. And the national anthem, The Zairean to Congolese Stand up.
In Burkina Faso for the 1998 AFCON edition, it was under Simbas that the Congolese took part therein. After having escaped from the clutches of the first round during the group games, the new Simbas: Mungongo Fish, Kasongo Banza Korando, Emeka Mamale, Kisombe, Tondelua, Hitoto, Kimoto Papy, Bembuana, Makenga, Banzamba, were coached by the late Louis Watunda. The Congolese squad eliminated the Cameroon of Rigobert Song, the late Jean Marc Foe, Patrick Boma, Tchoutan etc, in the last 16. In the quarter-finals, they signed their revenge on the Black Stars of Ghana with a solo goal by Kisombe alias “Kunde”, formerly of Sodigraf.
REMONTADA at 4th August Stadium in Ouagadougou for the losers’s final
In the semi-final against Bafana Bafana of South Africa, Benni McCarthy had no pity on Marcel Mayala. 2-1 was the final score in favour of the South Africans after extra time. In the 3rd place game or the losers’ final, it was the REMONTADA. Trailing 4-1 with 3 minutes to spare in normal time, Jean Kasongo Banza “Korando” reduced the score 4-2. A minute later, the Congolese top scorer Jerry Tondelua scored the Simbas’ 3rd goal. Despite extra time, the Burkinabé Stallions invoked their gods in vain, they had just lost a player to injury and could no longer make any substitutions, having exhausted the authorized quota of 3 substitutes. With 10 against 11, their coach Philippe Troussier looked so sad and forsaken. It was the moment chosen by Lokenge Mongongo alias “Fish” to score the equalizing goal 4-4. At the end of the penalty shootout, Simbas scored 4-1 to win the bronze medal. This 3rd place game is undoubtedly one of the most memorable games in the history of the African Cup of Nations. Led by4-1 three minutes from ending the game, the Congolese scored 3 goals to force the penalty shootout which they won, resuscitated by this helluva morale that followed the equalizer. A real disappointment for the Burkinabés and Troussier.
It was the first time the DRC has reached the semi-finals since 1974, 24 years later. The “backbone” or the hard core of this team was mainly made up of Sodigraf players: Jerry Tondelua, Kisombe Mundaba, Mungongo Fish, Papy Kimoto, Makenga, Mbayo Kibemba, Babale, Selenge etc. A few months earlier, SODIGRAF had lost the final of the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1997 against the Egyptians of Arab Contractors, former employer of the famous Cameroonian goalkeeper Joseph Antoine Bell. These players performed wonders alongside Emeka Mamale, Korando Kasongo and others.
Unfortunately Emeka Mamale died on June 25, 2020 without having shown the football world all the splendour of his oversized talent. Four years later, Kasongo Korando passed away on June 7, 2024. Fans will always remember his dashing starts like a leopard chasing its prey, combining speed and power. Never again the DRC will live through their talents but their prowess will forever remain benchmark performances for future generations.
Farewell Champions!
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