D.R. Congo

Players

No. Name Position
103 Frederic Bakekolo Left Wing
22 Frederic Beauregard Mbaka Left Back
27 Olivier Botetsi Left Wing
9 Zephyrin Bouity Genese Right Back
99 Vianey Boy Lumaswa Left Wing
75 Steeven Corneil Olivier Right Wing
101 Jonathan Dianda Left Back
14 Fabrice Ebanga Noah Playmaker
6 Christopher Elengesa Brabra Right Wing
18 Baudric Eyanga Simoketo Right Wing
104 Rock Feliho Left Back
16 Jordy Jacoby Koaly Goalkeeper
105 Lumu Kabasele Goalkeeper
17 Johan Kiangebeni Kawola Left Wing
83 Jacques Kinzonzolo Miatudila Left Wing
109 Mbuyamba Kongolo Goalkeeper
7 Arnold Libambu Yanga Centre Back
106 Ikutshu Lilingo Goalkeeper
12 Junior Lucau Herdeiro Goalkeeper
107 Achim Lutete Pueta Goalkeeper
108 Landu Makanda Goalkeeper
8 Daniel Mathey John Left Back
26 Giresse Mayola Diop Goalkeeper
13 Prince Juvenal Mebombo Mewonga Left Back
3 Mbeli Mohamed Jamal Left Back
41 Daniel Morisho Lombe Pivot
2 Mara Mukuna Mujanay Left Wing
15 Gauthier Mvumbi Thierry Pivot
102 Rodvan Nakatelamio Goalkeeper
56 Adam Ngando Ouedraogo Right Back
10 Andre Ngoulou Quentin Left Back
19 Glody Nkuku Nanga Right Back
1 Berlin Sobtacdoug Tietchop Goalkeeper
84 Audray Tuzolana Centre Back
4 Christian Yahoza Moga Pivot

Road to Egypt 2021: D.R. Congo reached the 27th Men’s Handball World Championship after coming seventh at the 2020 CAHB African Men’s Handball Championship.

History: D.R. Congo are making their first-ever World Championship appearance at Egypt 2021.

Coach: Francis Tuzolana

The Democratic Republic of the Congo are one of three debutants at the 27th IHF Men’s World Championship, having qualified by way of a seventh-place finish at the 2020 CAHB Men’s African Championship earlier this year. 

Seventh place was enough to qualify thanks to the newly expanded World Championship format that will have 32 teams for the first time in history, as well as having an African host nation. As a result, six tickets to Egypt 2021 were up for grabs at the 2020 CAHB Men’s African Championship. 

For DR Congo, it came down to the final day, when they faced Gabon in the 7/8 placement match which became a deciding match to determine the last team African team for Egypt 2021. DR Congo had the chance to secure their ticket two days earlier, when they met Cape Verde in the placement matches. However, after extra time, it was Cape Verde who progressed to the play-off for fifth with a two-goal win that was particularly devastating for DR Congo since they had the upper hand at half-time. 

Nevertheless, DR Congo recovered and earned a confident win over Gabon 30:26 and with that celebrated their place at Egypt 2021. 

“We had so many messages from our families and people who were really proud for us to represent our country at a World Championship amongst the best teams in the world – never could we imagine that we would be part of that,” recalls team captain Aurélien Tchitombi. 

“The victory was the culmination of hard work – we are a small federation working on development, so for us it was a great reward and a beautiful experience that we can now look forward to,” added coach Francis Tuzolana. 

“We are very happy to have qualified for our first World Championship but, of course, the COVID-19 health crisis has disrupted our preparation and planning. However, we will continue working on the programming of the training camps for our players.”

DR Congo will face a tough task at Egypt 2021. In Group D they will have to play against South and Central American champions Argentina, then defending world champions Denmark and finally Bahrain, semi-finalists at the 2020 Asian Championship. While captain Tchitombi says his team would naturally be thrilled to produce a win or two in the preliminary round, he says that is not the focus for his team – that if “we win only one game during the whole competition, it will still be a good result for us. Our objective is to show how Congolese handball has grown in the last decade and how it continues to progress.

“It’s an unbelievable opportunity to represent your people, but it’s also an opportunity to work together, to show our values, our skills, our potential and how we play handball in each country.

“Egypt 2021 is a good opportunity for us to show how handball is growing in DR Congo, and the continent. We must use this opportunity to produce more players and help young people believe in their dreams and to start playing handball.” 

Photo Credit: CAHB

 

 

Team PLD W D L GF GA GD PTS
D1 Denmark 3 3 0 0 104 59 45 6
D2 Argentina 3 2 0 1 72 74 -2 4
D3 Bahrain 3 1 0 2 75 85 -10 2
D4 D.R. Congo 3 0 0 3 68 101 -33 0

(D) D.R. Congo

  • 28 - 22

    Cairo Stadium Sports Hall 2021-01-15 , 19:00:00

  • 19 - 39

    Cairo Stadium Sports Hall 2021-01-17 , 21:30:00

  • 34 - 27

    Cairo Stadium Sports Hall 2021-01-19 , 19:00:00