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Central African Republic national football team facts for kids

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This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Central African Republic women's national football team.
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Central African Republic
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Les Fauves
(The Wild Beasts)
Association Central African Football Federation
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation UNIFFAC
(Central Africa)
Head coach Raoul Savoy
Captain Geoffrey Kondogbia
Most caps Foxi Kéthévoama (48)
Top scorer Hilaire Momi (10)
Home stadium Barthélémy Boganda Stadium
FIFA code CTA
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 112 Steady (7 February 2019)
Highest 49 (October 2012)
Lowest 202 (July–September 2009, March–August 2010)
Elo ranking
Current 126 Increase 6 (3 March 2019)
Highest 79 (1956)
Lowest 164 (2007–2009)
First international
Ubangi-Shari 5–1 French Cameroon
(Ubangi-Shari; unknown date 1956)
Biggest win
Ubangi-Shari 5–1 French Cameroon
(Ubangi-Shari; unknown date 1956)
Biggest defeat
 Côte d'Ivoire 11–0 Central African Republic 
(Abidjan, Ivory Coast; 27 December 1961)

The Central African Republic national football team (French: Équipe de République centrafricaine de football), nicknamed Les Fauves, is the national team of the Central African Republic and is controlled by the Central African Football Federation. They are a member of CAF. Despite being traditionally one of the weakest teams in Africa and the world, they recently achieved success. They won the 2009 CEMAC Cup by beating Gabon in the semi-finals and Equatorial Guinea in the final 3–0. Their FIFA ranking rose from 202nd in August 2010 to 89th by July 2011. On 10 October 2010, they earned a shock 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier win at home against Algeria 2–0, which put them top of their qualification group. The team won its first FIFA World Cup qualifier on 2 June 2012 after beating Botswana 2–0 at home.

History

Early years (1956–1989)

The team made its debut under the name of Ubangi-Shari in 1956 against French Cameroon. The Central African Football Federation was founded in 1961 and joined FIFA in 1964 and CAF in 1965.

Their first competitive match was in the 1961 Friendship Games in Ivory Coast where Central African Republic drew twice against Upper Volta and Liberia before losing to the hosts and failing to progress to the next round.

Central African Republic entered the 1974 African Cup of Nations qualification for the first time, progressing due to Gabon's withdrawal but were then eliminated 5–4 on aggregate by Ivory Coast, a tie which saw the second leg abandoned at half-time after arguments between players of both sides, forcing a replay in Lagos which Ivory Coast won 5–1.

They took part in 1984 UDEAC Cup where they qualified to the knock-out rounds on goal-difference over Equatorial Guinea but were then heavily beaten by Cameroon 7–1 before beating Gabon on penalties to finish third. However in the 1988 UDEAC Cup, Gabon would get their revenge, beating Central African Republic in the semi-finals. The following year Central African Republic would host the 1989 UDEAC Cup, making it to the finals, beating Gabon on the way, before losing 2–1 to Cameroon.

Sporadic matches (1990–2008)

During the 1990s, Central African Republic played very few international games, withdrawing from the 1996 African Cup of Nations qualification without playing a match. They returned to competition in the UNIFAC Cup in 1999, winning three times and losing twice to finish second.

Central African Republic participated in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers for the first time, losing in the first round to Zimbabwe. They reached the final of the inaugural CEMAC Cup, losing to an amateur Cameroon team that they'd drawn with a week earlier in the tournament.

Promising victories (2009–present)

In 2009, Central African Republic hosted the 2009 CEMAC Cup where they defeated Equatorial Guinea 3–0 in the final, with goals from Salif Kéïta and a brace from Hilaire Momi to claim their first trophy.

During the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Central African Republic achieved a historic 2-0 home victory over the top seeded Algeria, a team that had recently competed at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In July 2011, they climbed to 89th place in the FIFA world rankings, having occupied 202nd place as recently as August 2010.

On 2 June 2012, they obtained their first victory in World Cup qualification, beating Botswana 2-0 at home. Despite that positive result, Central African Republic finished bottom of their group. On 15 June 2012, despite being reduced to ten men, they achieved another impressive victory, beating Egypt (3–2) in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, inflicting the first home defeat on the Egyptians in AFCON qualifiers since 1965. Thanks to a 1-1 draw at home in the second leg, Central African Republic eliminated the Egyptians, but in the second round they were defeated by Burkina Faso.

Results and fixtures

Main page: Central African Republic national football team results

      Win       Draw       Loss

2021

2022

2023

Coaching history

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.
  • France Jules Accorsi (2010–2012)
  • Central African Republic Herve Lougoundji (2012–2014)
  • Switzerland Raoul Savoy (2014–2015)
  • France Blaise Kopogo (2015)
  • Central African Republic Herve Lougoundji (2015–2017)
  • Switzerland Raoul Savoy (2017–2019)
  • Côte d'Ivoire François Zahoui (2019–2021)
  • Switzerland Raoul Savoy (2021–present)

Players

Current squad

The following players were selected for the 2023 AFCON qualification matches against Angola on 1 June and Ghana on 5 June 2022.

Caps and goals as of 5 June 2022, after the match against Ghana.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Kolimba Alladoum (1987-08-11) 11 August 1987 (age 36) 2 0 Nigeria Wikki Tourists
1GK Emmanuel Takolingba (2001-10-24) 24 October 2001 (age 22) 2 0 Central African Republic AS Tempête Mocaf
1GK Cédric Zouangba (1999-03-16) 16 March 1999 (age 24) 0 0 Central African Republic DFC8
2DF Sadock Ndobé (1998-09-09) 9 September 1998 (age 25) 16 0 Central African Republic AS Tempête Mocaf
2DF Thibault Ban (1996-08-13) 13 August 1996 (age 27) 13 0 Central African Republic Anges de Fatima
2DF Flory Yangao (2002-01-13) 13 January 2002 (age 21) 13 0 Central African Republic Olympic Real de Bangui
2DF Freeman Niamathé (1999-03-12) 12 March 1999 (age 24) 11 0 Central African Republic Anges de Fatima
2DF Peter Guinari (2001-06-02) 2 June 2001 (age 22) 10 0 Luxembourg Wiltz 71
2DF Sidney Dambakizi (1996-03-07) 7 March 1996 (age 27) 5 0 Central African Republic Anges de Fatima
2DF Cyriaque Mayounga (2000-10-04) 4 October 2000 (age 23) 2 0 Slovakia Dukla Banská Bystrica
2DF Bissafi Dotté (1999-07-02) 2 July 1999 (age 24) 0 0 United States Campbell Fighting Camels
3MF Isaac Ngoma (2002-12-09) 9 December 2002 (age 20) 6 2 Central African Republic Anges de Fatima
3MF Brad Pirioua (2000-03-06) 6 March 2000 (age 23) 5 0 Spain Los Garres
3MF Theodor Yawanendji (2002-05-16) 16 May 2002 (age 21) 5 1 Rwanda Gasogi United
3MF Soleil Mongolobao (2001-06-20) 20 June 2001 (age 22) 2 0 Central African Republic Olympic Real de Bangui
3MF Jacob Youmbi (1994-04-01) 1 April 1994 (age 29) 2 0 Iraq Naft Al-Basra
4FW Georgino M'Vondo (1997-08-12) 12 August 1997 (age 26) 11 0 France Angoulême
4FW Karl Namnganda (1996-02-08) 8 February 1996 (age 27) 9 2 France Les Herbiers
4FW Lobi Manzoki (1996-10-12) 12 October 1996 (age 27) 3 0 People's Republic of China Dalian Pro
4FW Samuel Nlend (1995-03-15) 15 March 1995 (age 28) 3 1 Equatorial Guinea Futuro Kings
4FW Yassan Ouatching (1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 (age 25) 2 0 Ghana Accra Hearts of Oak
4FW Christopher Fourmy (1993-04-08) 8 April 1993 (age 30) 1 0 France Stade Poitevin

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Central African Republic squad within the last twelve months.


Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Désiré Nzogue (1997-01-18) 18 January 1997 (age 26) 1 0 Cameroon New Star de Douala v.  Sudan; 26 March 2022
DF Saint-Cyr Ngam Ngam (1993-01-27) 27 January 1993 (age 30) 31 0 Central African Republic DFC8 v.  Sudan; 26 March 2022
MF Saint-Fort Dimokoyen (1992-08-07) 7 August 1992 (age 31) 11 1 Central African Republic Anges de Fatima v.  Sudan; 26 March 2022
MF Tresór Toropité (1994-07-31) 31 July 1994 (age 29) 17 2 Central African Republic DFC8 v.  Sudan; 26 March 2022
MF Melky Ndokomandji (1997-09-04) 4 September 1997 (age 26) 7 0 Republic of the Congo AS Otohô v.  Sudan; 26 March 2022

INJ Withdrew due to injury
PRE Preliminary squad
RET Retired from the national team
SUS Serving suspension
WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue.

Records

Players in bold are still active with Central African Republic.

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup record

FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 to West Germany 1974 Did not enter Did not enter
Argentina 1978 Withdrew Withdrew
Spain 1982 Disqualified during qualifying Disqualified during qualifying
Mexico 1986 Did not enter Did not enter
Italy 1990
United States 1994
France 1998
South Korea Japan 2002 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 1 4
Germany 2006 Withdrew Withdrew
South Africa 2010
Brazil 2014 Did not qualify 6 1 0 5 5 12
Russia 2018 2 0 1 1 2 5
Qatar 2022 6 1 1 4 4 9
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined To be determined
Total – 0/22 – – – – – – 16 2 2 12 12 30

Africa Cup of Nations record

Africa Cup of Nations record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
Sudan 1957 to Egypt 1959 Part of  France
Ethiopia 1962 to Ethiopia 1968 Not affiliated to CAF
Sudan 1970 to Cameroon 1972 Did not enter
Egypt 1974 Disqualified during qualifying
Ethiopia 1976 Withdrew
Ghana 1978 to Egypt 1986 Did not enter
Morocco 1988 Did not qualify
Algeria 1990 to Tunisia 1994 Did not enter
South Africa 1996 Withdrew
Burkina Faso 1998 Disqualified during qualifying
Ghana Nigeria 2000 Withdrew
Mali 2002 to Tunisia 2004 Did not qualify
Egypt 2006 Withdrew
Ghana 2008 Did not enter
Angola 2010 Withdrew
Gabon Equatorial Guinea 2012 to Cameroon 2021 Did not qualify
Côte d'Ivoire 2023 To be determined
Guinea 2025
Total – 0/33 – – – – – –

Head-to-head record

As of 17 November 2020 after match against  Morocco

      Positive Record       Neutral Record       Negative Record

Opponent
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
 Algeria 3 1 0 2 2 5 −3
 Angola 2 1 0 1 3 4 −1
 Botswana 2 1 0 1 4 3 +1
 Burkina Faso 5 1 1 3 4 9 −5
 Burundi 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2
 Cameroon 9 2 1 6 14 26 −12
 Chad 8 3 1 4 12 11 +1
 Congo 14 1 1 12 12 33 −21
 Congo DR 9 1 1 7 8 30 −22
 Equatorial Guinea 4 0 2 2 6 11 −5
 Egypt 2 1 1 0 4 3 +1
 Ethiopia 2 0 0 2 1 4 −3
 Gabon 13 3 4 6 13 20 −7
 Gambia 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1
 Guinea 3 0 1 2 2 4 −2
 Guinea-Bissau 2 0 1 1 1 3 −2
 Côte d'Ivoire 5 1 1 3 5 19 −14
 Kenya 1 1 0 0 3 2 +1
 Liberia 1 0 1 0 1 1 0
 Libya 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
 Madagascar 5 2 2 1 9 8 +1
 Mali 2 0 0 2 4 7 −3
 Malta 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1
 Mauritania 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2
 Morocco 5 0 2 3 1 10 −9
 Mozambique 2 0 1 1 1 2 −2
 Niger 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2
 Rwanda 2 1 1 0 4 3 +1
 São Tomé and Príncipe 2 2 0 0 5 1 +4
 Senegal 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3
 South Africa 2 0 0 2 0 5 −5
 Tanzania 2 1 0 1 3 3 0
 Togo 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1
 Tunisia 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3
 Zimbabwe 2 0 0 2 1 4 −3
Total 117 25 24 68 129 239 −110

FIFA ranking history

End of each year only


Achievements

CEMAC Cup :
  • 1 Time Champion (2009)
  • 1 Time Runners-up (2003)
UNIFAC Cup (1999):
  • Runners-up

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de la República Centroafricana para niños

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