Here’s the latest available overview of DR Congo’s national team news based on recent public reports.
AFCON 2025/Morocco 2025 preparations: DR Congo announced a 26-man squad for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco 2025, signaling strong stability and form under coach Sébastien Desabre. This aligns with broader CAF communications about team lists ahead of the tournament [CAF Online, 2025-11-30]. This squad included key players like captain Chancel Mbemba and others such as Axel Tuanzebe, Noah Sadiki, Fiston Mayele, Meschak Elia, and Cedric Bakambu [CAF Online, 2025-11-30].
AFCON 2025 progress and knockout stage momentums: After group-stage results, DR Congo advanced to the knockout rounds and progressed by defeating Egypt on penalties in the last 16, then beat Guinea 3-1 in the quarter-finals, illustrating a notable resurgence under Desabre [Yahoo News, 2024-12 to 2025-01 coverage]. The team expressed a strong desire to reach the final and not rest on early progress, emphasizing ongoing momentum [Yahoo News, 2025-01- around semis].
Broader context and performances: Desabre has been acknowledged for turning around the team since taking charge in 2022, guiding a squad that shifted from early qualification setbacks to knockout-stage success in AFCON. He has framed the mission as delivering joy to fans amid regional challenges back home [Yahoo News, 2024-12 to 2025-01 coverage; Ahram English, 2026-01-17].
Illustration: The Leopards’ trajectory from squad selection ahead of AFCON to knockout-stage success demonstrates strategic stability and timely player integration under Desabre, with captain Mbemba and slate of internationals (e.g., Bakambu, Elia) central to the run.
If you’d like, I can compile a concise timeline of DR Congo’s recent AFCON appearances and World Cup qualification results, or pull the most recent match results and upcoming fixtures.
Citations:
Democratic Republic of Congo coach Sebastien Desabre is hoping his team can use Wednesday's Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Ivory Coast to "give joy" to people at home amidst ongoing violence in the volatile east of the country.
english.ahram.org.egThe latest and current news of the football club DR Congo for today: all the team and player news, breaking stories, player interviews with photos and videos on the Dailysports website
dailysports.netDR Congo head coach Sébastien Desabre has unveiled his 26-player squad for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025, reinforcing his commitment to stability and form as the Leopards prepare for one of the continent’s biggest football stages.
store.cafonline.comDR Congo head coach Sébastien Desabre has unveiled his 26-player squad for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025, reinforcing his commitment to stability and form as the Leopards prepare for one of the continent’s biggest football stages.
www.cafonline.comThe official site of the international governing body of football with news, national associations, competitions, results, fixtures, development, organisation, world rankings, statistics, the International Football Association Board, history, laws of the game, futsal, publications, downloads, and contact details.
www.fifa.comLatest DR Congo football news, breaking news, national football team, CAN, world cup, videos, players.
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