Introduction to Football in the Democratic Republic of Congo
These are busy times for football in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The women’s team played for the first time since 2012 in the African Nations Cup, while the men are currently topping their qualification group for the 2026 World Cup and have been aiming for a first appearance on the global stage since 1974.
Encouraging News from the Field
There are also encouraging news from the field. If a peace agreement that was signed between the country and the neighboring Rwanda in June holds, it could bring relief, and citizens could have a new chance of playing or watching sports. The eastern region of the country has been plagued by violence in the past 30 years, which, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, has led to the death of about six million people.
How Peace Could Score for the "Beautiful Game"
When the fights stop, football can be resumed across the country. A peace agreement has to be sorted because a number of clubs that are based in the east of the country could not play due to the latest conflict. Ultimately, for the game to thrive, stability and peace are necessary. If the war takes place, the priority is only to survive.
Effects of Peace on Football
Provided that a concrete and sustainable implementation follows, the state and investors can better finance the rehabilitation of stadiums, municipal areas, and training centers. Regions earlier in the war could finally benefit from real sports facilities. Larger opportunities in cities such as Goma, which are near the border with Rwanda, would give young men a choice: to take a ball instead of taking up a weapon or getting involved with crimes.
The Role of Football in Promoting Peace
Football can really help young men to turn away from violence and to say goodbye to a healthier lifestyle through sport, especially in contexts that are characterized by poverty, idleness, or social tensions. Playing football promotes the creation of strong social ties between young people with different backgrounds. Football is a model of hope and ambition.
The Effects of the 2026 World Cup
Reaching the 2026 World Cup could be a game-changer. Even in the middle of instability at home, DR Congo is topping the qualification group, with Senegal and Sudan left behind and only four games to go. DR Congo faces these two teams on home soil later this year in the decisive clashes. When the men’s team qualifies, people will look more at the Congo to invest and help the children.
Investment in Football
Congo has the same talent as the Nigerian team or Ghana and Senegal. We have such players, but we don’t have the money to come and invest. If we had more money, football in the Congo would be huge. Further investments in infrastructure, institutions, and clubs would help the country to produce more players like Chancer Mbemba who have played almost 100 times for the national team, as well as for European clubs such as Newcastle United, Porto, and Marseille.
Football as a National Religion
Football is almost a national religion in the Congo. If it qualifies for the World Cup, how to do it well, the nation will really encourage and electrify it. It will bring people together. However, women have to go longer and were eliminated with a game from the WAFCON. According to the national team Captain Fideline N’Goy, there are strong players, but infrastructure and support are in short supply.
Women’s Football in the Congo
There is great talent and a wish among young girls to play sports, but there is no decent coaching to develop their talents: no training centers, no fields, and no federation projects. The goalkeeper contrasts the situation with Cameroon and Morocco, where the FIFA prize money goes back to the women’s play and in South Africa, where women are paid almost as much as men. In our country, the winners of the women’s championship earn 10,000 US dollars, while the men earn 150,000 US dollars.
