DR Congo men's national basketball team

Not to be confused with Republic of the Congo national basketball team.
This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see DR Congo women's national basketball team.

Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo
FIBA ranking72 Increase 1 (25 February 2025)[1]
Joined FIBA1963
FIBA zoneFIBA Africa
National federationFebaco
CoachMichel Perrin
Nickname(s)Leopards
AfroBasket
Appearances7 (last in 2021)

The DR Congo national basketball team (French: Équipe nationale de basketball de Congo DR) represents DR Congo in men's international basketball competitions, it is controlled by the Basketball Federation of Democratic Republic of Congo.[2] (French: République démocratique du Congo Fédération de basket-ball)

The team has appeared in the FIBA Africa Championship, but has yet to appear in the FIBA World Championship. Its biggest success to date was the Final Four placement at the 1975 FIBA Africa Championship when it competed as Zaire.

History

DR Congo joined FIBA in 1963 and made its continental debut twelve years later at the AfroBasket in 1974. The following year, at AfroBasket 1975, the team—then known as Zaire—finished in fourth place with a 2–3 record. After placing sixth in 1980, DR Congo missed the tournament for the next 27 years.[3]

At AfroBasket 2007, DR Congo returned and finished 15th.[4]

Following another lengthy absence, DR Congo re-emerged at AfroBasket 2017 and advanced to the quarter-finals, highlighted by an upset of Nigeria in the group phase.[5]

In August 2022, Jonathan Kuminga, then a newly crowned NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, joined the national team for the 2023 FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers, becoming the first NBA player to represent the Leopards.[6] He scored a team-high 18 points and six rebounds in a qualifier against Cameroon.[7]

In qualifying for AfroBasket 2025, DR Congo impressed with a 5–1 record under head coach Michel Perrin.[8] Expectations grew further when Kuminga was named to the preliminary roster.[9]

However, as the tournament approached, Kuminga’s participation was cast into doubt due to unresolved contract negotiations with Golden State. He reportedly declined a two-year, $45 million extension and was considered unlikely to play for DR Congo at AfroBasket 2025.[10][11][12]

Performances

FIBA Basketball World Cup

DR Congo has never appeared in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, but has played in the qualifying rounds.

FIBA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position GP W L GP W L –
Brazil 1963 Did not qualify AfroBasket served as qualification
Uruguay 1967
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1970
Puerto Rico 1974
Philippines 1978
Colombia 1982
Spain 1986
Argentina 1990
Canada 1994
Greece 1998
United States 2002
Japan 2006
Turkey 2010
Spain 2014
China 2019 6 2 4 2019
PhilippinesJapanIndonesia 2023 12 5 7 2023
Qatar 2027 To be determined To be determined 2027
Total 0/16 0 0 0 18 7 11 Total

AfroBasket

  Fourth place  

AfroBasket record Qualification record
Year Round Position GP W L GP W L –
Morocco 1964 Did not qualify
Tunisia 1965
Morocco 1968
Egypt 1970
Senegal 1972
Central African Republic 1974 Classification stage 6th 4 1 3
Egypt 1975 Main stage 4th 5 2 3
Senegal 1978 Did not qualify
Morocco 1980 Classification stage 6th 5 2 3
Somalia 1981 Did not qualify
Egypt 1983
Ivory Coast 1985
Tunisia 1987
Angola 1989
Egypt 1992
Kenya 1993
Algeria 1995
Senegal 1997
Angola 1999
Morocco 2001
Egypt 2003
Algeria 2005
Angola 2007 Classification round 15th 6 2 4
Libya 2009 Did not qualify 4 1 3 2009
Madagascar 2011 Did not enter
Ivory Coast 2013 6 1 5 2013
Tunisia 2015 Withdrew
Senegal Tunisia 2017 Quarter-finals 6th 4 2 2 2 1 1 2017
Rwanda 2021 Group stage 13th 3 1 2 6 3 3 2021
Angola 2025 Qualification to quarter-finals 11th 4 1 3 6 5 1 2025
Total 7/29 31 11 20 24 11 13 –

FIBA AfroCan

Main article: FIBA AfroCan

  Champions     Fourth place  

Year Round Position GP W L
Mali 2019 Champions 1st 5 5 0
Angola 2023 4th place 4th 6 3 2
Total 2/2 11 8 2

Team

Current roster

Team for the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket.[13]

DR Congo national basketball team roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr.
1 Johnathan Devante Jordan 32 – (1992-10-07)7 October 1992 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Fath Union Sport Morocco
7 Maxi Munanga Shamba 31 – (1993-12-25)25 December 1993 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) US Maubeuge France
11 Franck Nyembo 19 – (2006-05-29)29 May 2006 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Chaux Sport Democratic Republic of the Congo
15 Rolly Fula Nganga 32 – (1993-02-02)2 February 1993 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Val de Seine Basket France
18 Jordan Sakho 28 – (1997-04-04)4 April 1997 2.09 m (6 ft 10 in) CB Breogán Spain
20 Isaac Ngoy Mushila 26 – (1999-02-17)17 February 1999 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Córdoba CB Spain
21 Evariste Shonganya 34 – (1991-04-06)6 April 1991 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Val de Seine Basket France
24 Christian Lutete 28 – (1996-10-09)9 October 1996 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) KK Bosna Royal Bosnia and Herzegovina
31 Christian Eyenga 36 – (1989-06-22)22 June 1989 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Fos Provence Basket France
33 Mervedi Kasekelayi Miteo 16 – (2008-12-13)13 December 2008 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) AD Pedro Alvarez Spain
34 Garmine Kande 25 – (1999-08-24)24 August 1999 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) CD Estela Spain
55 Djack Kapongo Kabuya 32 – (1993-02-15)15 February 1993 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Chaux Sport Democratic Republic of the Congo
Head coach
  • France Michel Perrin
Assistant coach(es)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo Muamba Ilunga
  • France Gaëtan Douet
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • nat field describes country
    of last club before the tournament
  • Age field is age on 12 August 2025

Head coaches

Name Nationality Tenure
Jacques Ndala  DR Congo 2010s
Kouadio Michel  CIV 2010s
Philipp Onguéné  FRA 2016–2017
Papy Kipunka  DR Congo 2017–2018[14]
John Douaglin[15]  France 2018
Mathias Eckhoff[16]  Norway 2020–2022[17]
Thomas Drouot  France February 2022 – July 2022[18]
Emmanuel Mavomo  DR Congo August 2022 – May 2023[19]
Pierrot Ilunga  DR Congo 2023[20]
Michel Perrin  France 2025

Notable eligible players

Name Team Team nation
Bismack Biyombo San Antonio Spurs  United States
Oscar Tshiebwe Salt Lake City Stars  United States
Yannick Nzosa Unicaja Málaga → Fuenlabrada  Spain
Jordan Sakho Breogán  Spain
Emmanuel Mudiay Piratas de Quebradillas  Puerto Rico

Past rosters

Roster in the 2023 FIBA World Cup qualifiers of August 27, 2022.[21]

No. Pos. Player Current club
00 SG Jonathan Kuminga United States Golden State Warriors
3 F Narcisse Ambanza Democratic Republic of the Congo Espoir Fukash
4 G Myck Kabongo South Africa Cape Town Tigers
5 G Henry Pwono Luxembourg Etzella
10 PF Joel Ntambwe United States Delaware Blue Coats
11 C Pitchou Kambuy Manga Rwanda REG
15 F Rolly Fula Nganga Democratic Republic of the Congo Espoir Fukash
16 PF Shekinah Munanga France Évreux
18 C Jordan likanda Spain CB Breogán
23 F Rodrigue Ebondo Tambwe Ivory Coast SOA
24 G Ron Mvouika United Kingdom Plymouth Raiders

Top scorers

The following players were the DR Congo's top scorers in their AfroBasket tournaments:

DR Congo top scorers at AfroBasket
Tournament Player Points PPG
2017[22] Herve Kabasele Kasonga 59 14.8
2021[23] Henry Pwono 48 16.0

See also

References

  1. ^ "FIBA World Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  2. ^ FIBA National Federations – Democratic Republic of the Congo, fiba.com. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  3. ^ "DR Congo national basketball team". Basketball Africa. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  4. ^ "DR Congo returns to AfroBasket after long absence". FIBA. 15 August 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  5. ^ "DR Congo stun Nigeria to reach AfroBasket quarter-finals". FIBA. 10 September 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Splash Brothers, Ibaka, Iggy encouraged me to play for my national team – Kuminga". FIBA. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Kuminga shines as DRC battles Cameroon". The New Times Rwanda. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Team profile: Can DR Congo keep up their strong performance?". FIBA. 3 July 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Leopards ready to shock African basketball world". FIBA. 18 July 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Jonathan Kuminga likely to miss AfroBasket 2025 with DR Congo". BasketNews. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Jonathan Kuminga will not participate in AfroBasket amid Warriors negotiations". Golden State of Mind. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  12. ^ "Jonathan Kuminga stalemate with Golden State set to cost him AfroBasket". NBA Analysis Network. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  13. ^ DR Congo | 2025 FIBA AfroBasket, FIBA. Retrieved August 2025.
  14. ^ "DR Congo mourns passing of former national teams head coach Papy Kiembe". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  15. ^ "DR Congo appoint Douaglin as head coach in bid to qualify for World Cup". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Kayembe excited about new DR Congo sophisticated style". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  17. ^ "AfroBasket 2021 - Team Profile: Democratic Republic of Congo". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  18. ^ Demba, Varore (17 February 2022). "Basketball : la RD Congo engage un nouvel entraîneur pour les qualifications au Mondial 2023". Sport News Africa (in French). Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  19. ^ "Emmanuel Mavomo: "We want to be the first to qualify the DRC for the World Cup"". African News Paper. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  20. ^ "Team Profile: DR Congo are chasing back-to-back FIBA AfroCan success". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  21. ^ "Congo DR at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  22. ^ "Dem.Rep. of Congo at the FIBA Afrobasket 2017". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  23. ^ "Congo DR at the FIBA AfroBasket 2021". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
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