DR Congo at the FIFA World Cup

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DR Congo national football team (formerly the Zaire national football team) have appeared in the finals of the FIFA World Cup on one occasion in 1974 when they were known as Zaire. [1] They were the first Sub-Saharan African team to participate in a World Cup. Despite respectable performances against Scotland and Brazil they were defeated in all three matches with a total goal difference of 0–14.

Contents

Context

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Zairian dictator Mobutu Sese Seko invested heavily in the national football team. It led to continental success, with Zaire winning the African Cup of Nations in 1968 and in March 1974, just three months before their World Cup appearance. After qualifying for the 1974 FIFA World Cup in December 1973, the players were each given a car and a house by Mobutu.

The disastrous displays of the Zaire national team were put into a new light in a notable 2002 interview with defender Mwepu Ilunga. According to him, they were informed they would not be paid after their initial 0-2 defeat against Scotland. This led to the Zairian players refusing to play. Even though they were persuaded to show up against Yugoslavia, they were unmotivated and lost 0-9, one of the highest defeats in FIFA World Cup history.

"After the match, he (Mobutu) sent his presidential guards to threaten us. They closed the hotel to all journalists and said that if we lost 0-4 to Brazil, none of us would be able to return home", Ilunga is quoted. [2] [3]

They lost their final match 0–3.

In an interview in 2018, the captain Raoul Kidumu affirmed the reason for the defeat against Yugoslavia.

"We were aware that every team received a big qualification bonus [From FIFA, and partially passed on to the players] of half a million dollars. That was our money. We'd been asking for days. We shared the same hotel with the players of Haiti and every day we saw them arrive back with bags full of presents: jewellery, radios, clothes. Bought with their bonus. Meanwhile our Minister of Sport was running around with his bum bag. He was arranging the financial matters with FIFA. On the eve of the game with Yugoslavia he called us together for a meeting. We thought: "Finally!" Until he said he had to share something with us. "Regarding the money, it'll be sent straight to Zaire." That's when we knew we wouldn't see a penny of it. All the players were angry, including myself. We wouldn't play against Yugoslavia. A team at the world championships had never forfeited before. We were determined to be the first."

Of course this angered the dictator Mobutu and half an hour later a further team meeting was called. The president was on the line and Kidumu as the team captain had to pick up the phone. "The president was angry. A strike? He said he would be watching the match the next day on TV. He told me he would be watching whether or not we entered the pitch. It sounded like a threat so we gave in. We were afraid of the consequences. Not even for ourselves, but our families back in Zaire. So we showed up for the match. But you have to understand that our morale was gone." [4]

The captain also affirmed the threats made by the president about losing the next match against Brazil by more than 3 goals. “We started the match with the intention to show the world we could play football. At half time it was only 1–0. But the coach deceived everyone. Together with the goal keeper he falsified the game. Kazadi, our goalkeeper, later confessed it. Brazil had to win by at least three goals to qualify and they arranged it. You should rewatch those last two goals. A blind wench could have stopped those balls." [4]

The Free Kick Incident

Late in their third match, a free kick was given to Zairian opponents Brazil at a central position just outside the penalty box. Before Brazil's free kick specialist Rivellino could take it, however, Zaire defender Mwepu Ilunga darted out of the defending wall and kicked the ball away as hard as he could. At the time, some thought of it as "a bizarre moment of African innocence" as quoted by BBC reporter John Motson. [5] Ever since, it is regularly listed among the most hilarious and memorable moments of World Cup history.

Only decades later did Ilunga explain that he was fully aware of the rules and had hoped to be sent off in an act of protest, but referee Nicolae Rainea only showed him a yellow card.

Aftermath

The Yugoslav coach Vidinić did not return to Zaire after the championships but went straight back to his home country.

The players, rather than being received by luxurious coach as had been the case after their Africa Cup triumph, had an empty army truck waiting for them. They were driven straight to the presidential palace, where Mobutu was waiting for them.

The captain said "There he gave us an ear full. He looked at us over the rim of his glasses, like an angry dad to his children: "So you thought you would rebel? I gave you all a house and a car!". He was furious. Not one player dared to speak. It was deathly quiet. In the end I softly asked to have the word and I apologised for what happened. It's the only thing I could have done. He finished with "Next time I'll throw you all in jail."" [4]

As punishment none of the players could leave the country. A list in the port and the airport of their names was displayed with "Forbidden to leave the country". This scuppered the players prospects of moves to European clubs with the offers that came in after the World cup.

After the World cup Mobutu lost interest in football and stopped actively using the national team as a political tool for promoting his regime. One of the players ended up being homeless. In 2012 a charity raised money for the surviving players to receive a small pension every month of a couple of hundred dollars. [4]

Record at the FIFA World Cup

YearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGA
Flag of Uruguay.svg 1930 Did not enter
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg 1934
Flag of France.svg 1938
Flag of Brazil (1889-1960).svg 1950
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg 1954
Flag of Sweden.svg 1958
Flag of Chile.svg 1962
Flag of England.svg 1966
Flag of Mexico.svg 1970
as Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg  Zaire
Flag of Germany.svg 1974 Group stage16th3003014
Flag of Argentina.svg 1978 Did not qualify
Flag of Spain.svg 1982
Flag of Mexico.svg 1986 Did not enter
Flag of Italy.svg 1990 Did not qualify
Flag of the United States.svg 1994
as Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo
Flag of France (lighter variant).svg 1998 Did not qualify
Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Flag of Japan.svg 2002
Flag of Germany.svg 2006
Flag of South Africa.svg 2010
Flag of Brazil.svg 2014
Flag of Russia.svg 2018
Flag of Qatar.svg 2022
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Flag of Mexico.svg Flag of the United States.svg 2026 To be determined
Flag of Morocco.svg Flag of Portugal.svg Flag of Spain.svg 2030
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg 2034
TotalGroup stage1/223003014
*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out

By Match

World CupRoundOpponentScoreResultVenueScorers
1974 Group stageFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 0–2 L Dortmund —
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia 0–9 L Gelsenkirchen —
Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 0–3 L Gelsenkirchen —

Record by Opponent

FIFA World Cup matches (by team)
OpponentWinsDrawsLossesTotalGoals ScoredGoals Conceded
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 001103
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 001102
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia 001109

Zaire at West Germany 1974

Squad

Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg  Zaire Head coach: Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Blagoje Vidinić

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsClub
11 GK Mwamba Kazadi (1947-03-06)6 March 1947 (aged 27) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg TP Mazembe
22 DF Mwepu Ilunga (1949-08-22)22 August 1949 (aged 24) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg TP Mazembe
32 DF Mwanza Mukombo (1945-12-17)17 December 1945 (aged 28) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg TP Mazembe
42 DF Tshimen Bwanga (1949-01-04)4 January 1949 (aged 25) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg TP Mazembe
52 DF Boba Lobilo (1950-04-10)10 April 1950 (aged 24) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg AS Vita Club
63 MF Massamba Kilasu (1950-12-22)22 December 1950 (aged 23) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg AS Bilima
73 MF Kamunda Tshinabu (1946-05-08)8 May 1946 (aged 28) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg TP Mazembe
83 MF Mambwene Mana (1947-10-10)10 October 1947 (aged 26) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg CS Imana
93 MF Uba Kembo Kembo (1947-12-27)27 December 1947 (aged 26) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg AS Vita Club
103 MF Mantantu Kidumu (1946-11-17)17 November 1946 (aged 27) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg CS Imana
112 DF Babo Kabasu (1950-03-04)4 March 1950 (aged 24) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg AS Bilima
121 GK Dimbi Tubilandu (1948-03-15)15 March 1948 (aged 26) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg AS Vita Club
133 MF Mulamba Ndaye (1948-11-04)4 November 1948 (aged 25) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg AS Vita Club
144 FW Adelard Mayanga Maku (1948-10-31)31 October 1948 (aged 25) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg AS Vita Club
153 MF Mafu Kibonge (1945-02-12)12 February 1945 (aged 29) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg AS Vita Club
162 DF Mialo Mwape (1951-12-30)30 December 1951 (aged 22) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg Nyiki Lubumbashi
173 MF Kafula Ngoie (1945-11-11)11 November 1945 (aged 28) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg TP Mazembe
184 FW Mafuila Mavuba (1949-12-15)15 December 1949 (aged 24) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg AS Vita Club
194 FW Ekofa Mbungu (1948-11-24)24 November 1948 (aged 25) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg CS Imana
204 FW Kalala Ntumba (1949-01-07)7 January 1949 (aged 25) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg AS Vita Club
214 FW Etepe Kakoko (1950-11-22)22 November 1950 (aged 23) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg CS Imana
221 GK Otepa Kalambay (1948-11-12)12 November 1948 (aged 25) Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg TP Mazembe

Group 2

TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia 3120101+94
Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 312030+34
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 312031+24
Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg  Zaire 3003014−140
Zaire  Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg0 – 2Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
Report Lorimer Soccerball shade.svg26'
Jordan Soccerball shade.svg34'
Westfalenstadion, Dortmund
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Gerhard Schulenburg (West Germany)
Yugoslavia  Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg9 – 0Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg  Zaire
Bajević Soccerball shade.svg8', 30', 81'
Džajić Soccerball shade.svg14'
Šurjak Soccerball shade.svg18'
Katalinski Soccerball shade.svg22'
Bogićević Soccerball shade.svg35'
Oblak Soccerball shade.svg61'
Petković Soccerball shade.svg65'		 Report
Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Omar Delgado Gómez (Colombia)
Zaire  Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg0 – 3Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil
Report Jairzinho Soccerball shade.svg12'
Rivellino Soccerball shade.svg66'
Valdomiro Soccerball shade.svg79'
Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Nicolae Rainea (Romania)

Record players

Ten players were fielded by head coach Vidinić on all three occasions, making them record players for the DR Congo to this day.

RankPlayerMatches
1 Tshimen Bwanga 3
Mwepu Ilunga 3
Mwamba Kazadi 3
Mantantu Kidumu 3
Massamba Kilasu 3
Boba Lobilo 3
Mambwene Mana 3
Adelard Mayanga Maku 3
Mwanza Mukombo 3
Kembo Uba Kembo 3

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Merrill, Austin. "Zaire, the Leopards, and the 1974 World Cup". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
  2. ↑ ROY GACHUHI. "Zaire: The tale of Africa's disastrous entry into the World Cup - Daily Nation". Nation.co.ke. Retrieved 2016-04-02.
  3. ↑ "BBC SPORT | WORLD CUP | History | 1974: Zaire's show of shame". BBC News. 2002-05-22. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "De meest bizarre deelname ooit aan een WK: drie tovenaars om de ploeg te begeleiden en "babyvlees" op het menu". Het Nieuwsblad Mobile.
  5. ↑ "The misinterpreted tragedy of Zaire at the 1974 World Cup". Tifo Football. Archived from the original on 2019-03-30. Retrieved 2019-09-16.
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