Country profile
DR Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Key facts
Capital
Kinshasa
Population
99,000,000
Confederation
CAF
FIFA code
COD
Overview
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is Africa's second-largest country, a vast nation straddling the equator and defined by the mighty Congo River and the world's second-largest rainforest. Home to over 100 million people and hundreds of ethnic groups, it pulses with a cultural energy that gave the world rumba and soukous music.
Football is woven into the national fabric, from the dusty pitches of Kinshasa to the copper-belt cities of the south. The Leopards represent a rare unifying force in a country that has endured immense hardship, and their successes are celebrated with euphoric, all-night street parties.
Football culture
Football is a national obsession, with TP Mazembe of Lubumbashi a continental powerhouse that famously reached a Club World Cup final. The game offers both escapism and pride, and matches are accompanied by drumming, dancing and vivid color.
World Cup history
Competing in 1974 as Zaire, they became the first sub-Saharan African nation to reach a World Cup finals. That tournament ended in three heavy defeats, and a long absence followed until this return marks a generational milestone.
Location
Did you know
- As Zaire in 1974, they were the first Black African team at a World Cup.
- TP Mazembe reached the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup final.
- The Congo River is the world's deepest, plunging over 220 metres.
- Congolese rumba is recognized by UNESCO as cultural heritage.
- DR Congo has won the Africa Cup of Nations twice, in 1968 and 1974.
From Wikipedia
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo and formerly named Zaire, is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is the second-largest country in Africa and the eleventh-largest in the world. With a population of around 124 million people, the Democratic Republic…
Source: Wikipedia →