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).
The Congo national football team made its first ever appearance in February 1960 in a friendly against the Ivory Coast which they lost 4âÂÂ2. On 13 April, they defeated Reunion 4âÂÂ1 in their first game to advance to the quarter-finals. In their quarter-final on 15 April, they defeated the Ivory Coast 3âÂÂ2. On 17 April, they lost 5âÂÂ4 to Cameroon and were beaten 8âÂÂ1 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 2âÂÂ0 to Tunisia on 13 April but beat the Ivory Coast 3âÂÂ2 the next day. On 15 April they beat their neighbour Congo Kinshasa 2âÂÂ1, and then Mauritania 11âÂÂ0 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 1âÂÂ1 with Mali on 18 July and beat Uganda 2âÂÂ1 the next day. On 21 July they drew 1âÂÂ1 against Togo but advanced through to the semi-finals, where they beat the Ivory Coast 1âÂÂ0 on 23 July. On 25 July the Congo drew 0âÂÂ0 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 1âÂÂ0 in a home friendly. On 19 February 1967 the Congo travelled to Tunisia for their first ever African Cup of Nations qualifier, drawing 1âÂÂ1. On 2 August 1967 they hosted a qualifier against Cameroon, and defeated them 2âÂÂ1 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 3âÂÂ0 on 12 January and two days later lost 2âÂÂ1 to Senegal. On 16 January the Congo were defeated 3âÂÂ1 by Ghana and were knocked out.
The Congo hosted a friendly against Romania for the second successive year on 16 June 1968 and won 4âÂÂ2. On 30 July 1968 they played their first ever South American opposition, losing a home friendly 2âÂÂ0 to Brazil.
In 1972, the Congo won their only African Cup of Nations title. Congo defeated host Cameroon in the semi-final 1âÂÂ0 before beating Mali 3âÂÂ2 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 1âÂÂ0 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.
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
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
The following players were called up for Congo in the last 12 months.