The Democratic Republic of Congo kicks off its AFCON 2023 campaign this Wednesday, boasting two seasoned scorers, Chancel Mbemba and Cédric Bakambu, who have etched their names into the annals of the African Cup of Nations.
The Leopards of the DRC carry a storied history into the 34th edition of AFCON, having seen 43 different players find the net in their 19 previous appearances.
However, in Sébastien Desabre’s current squad, only two players stand out as active scorers from past editions – Cédric Bakambu and Chancel Mbemba.
Galatasaray’s sharpshooter, Cédric Bakambu, is the lone Congolese player still competing in the AFCON who has notched up an impressive tally of 3 goals.
His goal-scoring prowess was on full display during the 2019 edition in Egypt, where the Leopards reached the round of 16 before bowing out to Madagascar on penalties.
Bakambu netted in a 2-2 draw against Zimbabwe and bagged a brace in the 4-0 victory over Zimbabwe in the group stage.
Chancel Mbemba, the captain of the Leopards, has a single goal to his name in AFCON history. In the 2019 tournament, he played a pivotal role, securing a 2-2 draw against Madagascar in the round of 16 with a crucial goal in the 90th minute.
Both players are poised to enhance their goal-scoring records as they step onto the field against Zambia in their opening fixture.
As they embark on this AFCON journey, it’s an opportune moment for these Congolese stalwarts to leave an indelible mark and further elevate their national team’s legacy in African football.
Top 10 best Congolese scorers at AFCON:
1. Israel Mulamba – 8 goals
2. Mayanga Maku – 6 goals
3. Kidumu Mantantu – 5 goals
4. Dieumerci Mbokani – 5 goals
5. Jerry Tondelua – 4 goals
6. Pierre Kalala – 3 goals
7. Justin Ntumba – 3 goals
8. Etepe Kakoko – 3 goals
9. Junior Kabananga – 3 goals
10. Cédric Bakambu – 3 goals
List of all Congolese scorers in the history of AFCON: (Please note: This list includes multiple players with 1 goal each)
