Linafoot

Last updated
Linafoot
Founded1958
CountryFlag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg DR Congo
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Number of clubs25
Level on pyramid1
Relegation to Linafoot Ligue 2
Domestic cup Coupe du Congo
International cup(s) CAF Champions League
CAF Confederation Cup
Current champions Aigles du Congo
(1st title)
(2024–25)
Most championships TP Mazembe
(20 titles)
Top scorer Tresor Mputu
(165 goals)
Website linafoot.com
Current: 2025–26 Linafoot

The Illicocash Ligue 1 is the top division of the Congolese Association Football Federation, the governing body of football in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was created in 1958.

Contents

In 2010 the competition was renamed the Vodacom Super League following the signing of a five-year sponsorship deal with communications company Vodacom. [1]

In 2013, the highest Linafoot attendance was set in a match between AS Vita Club and DC Motema Pembe, which saw an attendance of 80,000 at the Stade des Martyrs. In 2025, the derby took place at the Stade Tata Raphaël in front of a crowd of 40,000. [2]

As of 2025, TP Mazembe is the most successful Linafoot club with 20 titles, followed by AS Vita Club with 15 titles and DC Motema Pembe with 12 titles.

Qualification for African competitions

Association ranking for the 2025–26 CAF club season

The association ranking for the 2025–26 CAF Champions League and the 2025–26 CAF Confederation Cup will be based on results from each CAF club competition from 2020–21 to the 2024–25 season.

Legend


RankAssociation2020–21
(× 1)
2021–22
(× 2)
2022–23
(× 3)
2023–24
(× 4)
2024–25
(× 5)
Total
20252024Mvt CL CC CL CC CL CC CL CC CL CC
11Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 837482.577104190.5
22Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 4695822455142
34Green-Up-Arrow.svg +1Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 82544341.593131
43RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 6571652355130
56Green-Up-Arrow.svg +1Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 30.50234602482.5
65RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 4351426130.582.5
78Green-Up-Arrow.svg +1Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 10502031.52255
87RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo 400312402045
99Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Sudan.svg  Sudan 303030203041
1011Green-Up-Arrow.svg +1Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 000103301238
1110RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 00.50500.5030024
1212Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 020002020121

2021−22 clubs

Champions

Champions so far were: [3]

YearsChampions
1958 FC Saint Eloi Lupopo (1)
1959 Not finished
1960 Not held
1961 Not held
1962 Not held
1963 DC Motema Pembe (1)
1964 DC Motema Pembe (2)
1965 AS Dragons (1)
1966 TP Mazembe (1)
1967 TP Mazembe (2)
1968 FC Saint Eloi Lupopo (2)
1969 TP Mazembe (3)
1970 AS Vita Club (1)
1971 AS Vita Club (2)
1973 AS Vita Club (3)
1973 AS Vita Club (4)
1974 DC Motema Pembe (3)
1975 AS Vita Club (5)
1976 TP Mazembe (4)
1977 AS Vita Club (6)
1978 DC Motema Pembe (4)
1979 AS Dragons (2)
1980 AS Vita Club (7)
1981 FC Saint Eloi Lupopo (3)
1982 AS Dragons (3)
1983 SM Sanga Balende (1)
1984 AS Dragons (4)
1985 US Tshinkunku (1)
1986 FC Saint Eloi Lupopo (4)
1987 TP Mazembe (5)
1988 AS Vita Club (8)
1989 DC Motema Pembe (5)
1990 FC Saint Eloi Lupopo (5)
1991 SCOM Mikishi (1)
1992 US Bilombe (1)
1993 AS Vita Club (9)
1994 DC Motema Pembe (6)
1995 AS Bantous (1)
1996 DC Motema Pembe (7)
1997 AS Vita Club (10)
1998 DC Motema Pembe (8)
1999 DC Motema Pembe (9)
2000 TP Mazembe (6)
2001 TP Mazembe (7)
2002 FC Saint Eloi Lupopo (6)
2003 AS Vita Club (11)
2004 DC Motema Pembe (10)
2005 DC Motema Pembe (11)
2006 TP Mazembe (8)
2007 TP Mazembe (9)
2008 DC Motema Pembe (12)
2009 TP Mazembe (10)
2010 AS Vita Club (12)
2011 TP Mazembe (11)
2012 TP Mazembe (12)
2013 TP Mazembe (13)
2013–14 TP Mazembe (14)
2014–15 AS Vita Club (13)
2015–16 TP Mazembe (15)
2016–17 TP Mazembe (16)
2017–18 AS Vita Club (14)
2018–19 TP Mazembe (17)
2019–20 TP Mazembe (18)
2020–21 AS Vita Club [4] (15)
2021–22 TP Mazembe (19)
2022–23 Championship canceled
2023–24 TP Mazembe (20)
2024–25 Aigles du Congo (1)

Performance by club

ClubCityTitlesYears
1 TP Mazembe (Includes TP Engelbert) Lubumbashi 201966, 1967, 1969, 1976, 1987, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024
2 AS Vita Club Kinshasa 151970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1988, 1993, 1997, 2003, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2021
3 DC Motema Pembe (Includes CS Imana) Kinshasa 121963, 1964, 1974, 1978, 1989, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2008
4 FC Saint Eloi Lupopo Lubumbashi 61958, 1968, 1981, 1986, 1990, 2002
5 AS Dragons (Includes AS Bilima) Kinshasa 41965, 1979, 1982, 1984
6 SM Sanga Balende Mbuji-Mayi 11983
US Tshinkunku Kananga 11985
SCOM Mikishi Lubumbashi 11991
US Bilombe Bukavu 11992
AS Bantous Mbuji-Mayi 11995
Aigles du Congo Kinshasa 12025

Top goalscorers

SeasonCountryPlayerClubGoals
2000 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Papy Bazilepo Kinshasa City FC 19
2003 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Belingo Brazzo AS Vita Club 8
2004 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Tresor Mputu TP Mazembe 34
2005 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Tresor Mputu TP Mazembe 22
2006 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Tresor Mputu TP Mazembe 15
2007 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Tresor Mputu TP Mazembe 15
2008 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Serge Lofo Bongeli AS Vita Club 16
2009 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Junior Kabananga FC MK Etanchéité 27
2012 Flag of Tanzania.svg Mbwana Samatta TP Mazembe 23
2013 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Tady Agiti Etkiama AS Vita Club 13
2013–14 Flag of Tanzania.svg Mbwana Samatta TP Mazembe 15
2014–15 Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Roger Assale TP Mazembe 14
2015–16 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Chavda Maïsha Sharks XI 12
2016–17 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Ben Malango TP Mazembe 18
2017–18 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Jean Marc Makusu AS Vita Club 24
2018–19 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Jackson Muleka TP Mazembe 24
2019–20 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Jackson Muleka TP Mazembe 12
2021–22 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Makabi Lilepo AS Vita Club 9
2023–24 Flag of Mali.svg Fily Traore TP Mazembe 19

See also

References

  1. "Vodacom Super Ligue". vodacom.genitranssprl.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  2. https://www.radiookapi.net/2025/12/01/actualite/sport/trouble-au-stade-tata-raphael-apres-le-nul-1-1-entre-vita-et-motema-pembe
  3. "Congo-Kinshasa (DR Congo; formerly Zaire) Champions". RSSSF . Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  4. "RDC – Ligue 1 : La fédération reconnaît la décision du TAS, Vita Club officiellement champion". enquete.cd. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 2023-11-01..