Central African Republic National Football Team

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.

Central African Republic

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	Louis Mafouta (11)
Home stadium	Barthélemy Boganda Stadium
FIFA code	CTA
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	128 1 (4 April 2024)
Highest	49 (October 2012)
Lowest	202 (July–September 2009, March–August 2010)
First international
Ubangi-Shari 5–1 French Cameroon (Ubangi-Shari; unknown date 1956)
Biggest win
Central African Republic 6–0 Bhutan  (Colombo, Sri Lanka; 22 March 2024)
Biggest defeat
Ivory Coast 11–0 Central African Republic  (Abidjan, Ivory Coast; 27 December 1961)

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 (2009–2019)

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.

Missed opportunities (2020–present)

On 30 March 2021, in the last group stage match of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification, Central African Republic lost 1–0 at home against Mauritania to finish bottom of their group; hence, they missed the opportunity, had they won, to finish second which would have qualified them for the final tournament for the first time in their history.

On 17 June 2023, Central African Republic needed a win at home against Angola on matchday 5 of the qualifications to secure their first ever participation in the Africa Cup of Nations; however, the match ended in a 2–1 defeat and a drop to third place. In the final group stage match, the national team lost 2–1 to Ghana, despite a 1–0 lead, which ended their last hope of qualification.

FIFA Series tournament

In 2024, Central African Republic played their first ever tournament outside Africa where FIFA invited them to the 2024 FIFA Series matches on from 22 to 25 March 2024 held in Colombo in Sri Lanka where they would face Bhutan and Papua New Guinea.

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2023

Central African Republic   v   Madagascar

28 March 2023 (2023-03-28) 2023 AFCON qualification	Central African Republic	2–0	Madagascar	Douala, Cameroon
14:00 UTC+1	Mafouta   40', 82'	Report		Stadium: Stade de la Réunification Referee: Issa Mouhamed (Benin)

Central African Republic   v   Angola

17 June 2023 2023 AFCON qualification	Central African Republic	1–2	Angola	Douala, Cameroon
15:00 UTC+1	Kondogbia   46'	Report	K. Gaspar   12' Milson   86'	Stadium: Stade de la Réunification Referee: Redouane Jiyed (Moroccan)

Ghana   v   Central African Republic

7 September 2023 (2023-09-07) 2023 AFCON qualification	Ghana	2–1	Central African Republic	Kumasi, Ghana
16:00 UTC±0	Kudus   43' Nuamah   88'	Report	Mafouta   25'	Stadium: Baba Yara Stadium Referee: Peter Waweru (Kenya)

Comoros   v   Central African Republic

17 November 2026 World Cup Qualification	Comoros	4–2	Central African Republic	Moroni, Comoros
16:00 UTC+3	M'Dahoma   29' Youssouf   50' Saïd   58' Maolida   67'	Report	Abdallah   10' (o.g.) Zahary   74' (o.g.)	Stadium: Stade de Moroni Referee: Ibrahim Kalilou Traore (Ivory Coast)

Mali   v   Central African Republic

20 November 2026 World Cup Qualification	Mali	1–1	Central African Republic	Bamako, Mali
19:00 UTC+3	Doumbia   76'	Report	Kondogbia   79'	Stadium: Stade du 26 Mars Attendance: 30,000 Referee: Georges Gatogato (Burundi)

2024

Central African Republic   v   Bhutan

22 March 2024 FIFA World Series	Central African Republic	6–0	Bhutan	Colombo, Sri Lanka
15:00 UTC+5:30	Toropité   16' Baboula   48', 90+3' Namnganda   49', 64' Dangabo   56'	Report		Stadium: Colombo Racecourse Referee: Mohamed Jafran (Sri Lanka)

Central African Republic   v   Papua New Guinea

25 March 2024 FIFA World Series	Central African Republic	4–0	Papua New Guinea	Colombo, Sri Lanka
09:30 UTC+05:30	Yawanendji-Malipangou   11' Godame   25', 43', 78'	Report		Stadium: Colombo Racecourse Attendance: 550 Referee: Hettikamkanamge Perera (Sri Lanka)

Central African Republic   v   Chad

June 2026 World Cup Qualification

Central African Republic

v

Chad

TBD, Central African Republic

Ghana   v   Central African Republic

June 2026 World Cup Qualification

Ghana

v

Central African Republic

TBD, Ghana

2025

Central African Republic   v   Madagascar

March 2026 World Cup Qualification

Central African Republic

v

Madagascar

TBD, Central African Republic

Mali   v   Central African Republic

March 2026 World Cup Qualification

Mali

v

Central African Republic

TBD, Mali

Madagascar   v   Central African Republic

September 2026 World Cup Qualification

Madagascar

v

Central African Republic

TBD, Madagascar

Central African Republic   v   Comoros

September 2026 World Cup Qualification

Central African Republic

v

Comoros

TBD, Central African Republic

Central African Republic   v   Ghana

October 2026 World Cup Qualification

Central African Republic

v

Ghana

TBD, Central African Republic

Chad   v   Central African Republic

March 2026 World Cup Qualification

Chad

v

Central African Republic

TBD, Chad

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Current squad

The following players were selected for the 2024 FIFA World Series friendly matches against Bhutan and Papua New Guinea on 22 and 25 March 2024.

Caps and goals as of 25 March 2024, after the match against Papua New Guinea.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Geoffrey Lembet	(1988-09-03) 3 September 1988 (age 35)	38	0	Rennes
	1GK	Dominique Youfeigane	(2000-02-07) 7 February 2000 (age 24)	6	0	Lorient
	1GK	Marcellin Biandao	(1992-10-29) 29 October 1992 (age 31)	0	0	Fauve Azur Elite
	2DF	Sadock Ndobé	(1998-09-09) 9 September 1998 (age 25)	22	0	AS Otôho
	2DF	Flory Yangao	(2002-01-13) 13 January 2002 (age 22)	22	0	Olympic Real de Bangui
	2DF	Peter Guinari	(2001-06-02) 2 June 2001 (age 22)	16	0	Telstar
	2DF	Freeman Niamathé	(1999-03-12) 12 March 1999 (age 25)	15	0	Diables Noirs
	2DF	Severin Tatolna	(2002-02-10) 10 February 2002 (age 22)	4	0	Umeå
	2DF	Stéphane Kaïmba	(2004-11-17) 17 November 2004 (age 19)	1	0	Bamboutos
	3MF	Trésor Toropite	(1994-07-31) 31 July 1994 (age 29)	24	4	AS Otohô
	3MF	Amos Youga	(1992-12-08) 8 December 1992 (age 31)	22	0	CSKA Sofia
	3MF	Brad Pirioua	(2000-03-06) 6 March 2000 (age 24)	11	0	Istres
	3MF	Vénuste Baboula	(1998-08-23) 23 August 1998 (age 25)	9	2	Versailles
	3MF	Christian-Theodor Yawanendji-Malipangou	(2002-05-16) 16 May 2002 (age 21)	8	2	Al Dhafra
	3MF	Axel Urie	(1999-04-14) 14 April 1999 (age 25)	6	0	Concarneau
	3MF	Isaac Solet	(2001-06-16) 16 June 2001 (age 22)	4	0	Slavia Sofia
	4FW	Louis Mafouta	(1994-07-02) 2 July 1994 (age 29)	23	11	Amiens
	4FW	Karl Namnganda	(1996-02-08) 8 February 1996 (age 28)	16	4	Karbala
	4FW	Marco Majouga	(2001-05-09) 9 May 2001 (age 22)	3	0	Botev Vratsa
	4FW	Hamissou Dangabo	(2003-01-15) 15 January 2003 (age 21)	2	1	Nantes
	4FW	Juste Koulou	(2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 23)	2	0	TP USCA
	4FW	Tieri-Teddy Godame	(2002-07-09) 9 July 2002 (age 21)	1	3	Challans
	4FW	Wesley Ngakoutou-Yapende	(2001-08-18) 18 August 2001 (age 22)	1	0	Nîmes

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	Saturnin Ngarsouna	(1998-12-10) 10 December 1998 (age 25)	0	0	Red Star Bangui	v.   Ghana, 7 September 2023
GK	Alladoum Kolimba	(1987-08-11) 11 August 1987 (age 36)	3	0	Katsina United	v.   Angola, 17 June 2023
DF	Raphael Marc Yapende	(2002-08-20) 20 August 2002 (age 21)	5	0	Olympic Real de Bangui	v.   Mali, 20 November 2023
DF	Sacha M'Baka	(2004-06-04) 4 June 2004 (age 19)	0	0	Brest B	v.   Comoros, 17 November 2023
DF	Sidney Dambakizi	(1996-03-07) 7 March 1996 (age 28)	5	0	Anges de Fatima	v.   Ghana, 7 September 2023
DF	Thibault Ban	(1996-08-13) 13 August 1996 (age 27)	17	0	Anges de Fatima	v.   Angola, 17 June 2023
DF	Noah Ato-Zandanga	(2003-07-05) 5 July 2003 (age 20)	4	0	Santanyí	v.   Angola, 17 June 2023
DF	Donald Guesset	(1996-01-11) 11 January 1996 (age 28)	3	0	Anges de Fatima	v.   Angola, 17 June 2023
DF	Tony Biakolo	(2006-08-27) 27 August 2006 (age 17)	1	0	Toulouse	v.   Angola, 17 June 2023
DF	Dylan Mboumbouni	(1996-02-20) 20 February 1996 (age 28)	8	0	Mioveni	v.   Angola, 17 June 2023 INJ
DF	Cyriaque Mayounga	(2000-10-04) 4 October 2000 (age 23)	2	0	Free agent	v.   Angola, 17 June 2023 PRE
MF	Geoffrey Kondogbia (captain)	(1993-02-15) 15 February 1993 (age 31)	15	3	Marseille	2024 FIFA Series WD
MF	Goduine Koyalipou	(2000-02-15) 15 February 2000 (age 24)	3	0	Beveren	v.   Mali, 20 November 2023
MF	Gabriel Oualengbe	(2004-05-21) 21 May 2004 (age 19)	0	0	Paris FC	v.   Ghana, 7 September 2023
MF	Steve Bekain	(1999-11-28) 28 November 1999 (age 24)	0	0	Olympic Real de Bangui	v.   Ghana, 7 September 2023
MF	Samuel Nlend	(1995-03-15) 15 March 1995 (age 29)	6	1	Los Leones Tunari	v.   Angola, 17 June 2023
MF	Jacob Youmbi	(1994-04-01) 1 April 1994 (age 30)	5	0	Naft Al-Basra	v.   Angola, 17 June 2023
MF	Yassan Ouatching	(1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 (age 25)	3	0	Hearts of Oak	v.   Angola, 17 June 2023
FW	Lobi Manzoki	(1996-10-12) 12 October 1996 (age 27)	5	0	Dalian Pro	v.   Mali, 20 November 2023
FW	Eleoenai Tompte	(1999-01-18) 18 January 1999 (age 25)	5	0	Siegendorf	v.   Mali, 20 November 2023
FW	Georgino M'Vondo	(1997-08-12) 12 August 1997 (age 26)	11	0	Biesheim	v.   Angola, 17 June 2023 PRE
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.

As of 20 November 2023
Players in bold are still active with Central African Republic.

Most appearances

 

Top goalscorers

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup										Qualification
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1962	Not a FIFA member									Not a FIFA member
1966 to 1974	Did not enter									Did not enter
1978	Withdrew									Withdrew
1982	Disqualified during qualifying									Disqualified during qualifying
1986 to 1998	Did not enter									Did not enter
2002	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	1	4
2006	Withdrew									Withdrew
2010
2014	Did not qualify									6	1	0	5	5	12
2018										2	0	1	1	2	5
2022										6	1	1	4	4	9
2026	To be determined									2	0	1	1	3	5
2030										To be determined
2034
Total	–	0/15	–	–	–	–	–	–		18	2	3	13	15	35

Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1957	Part of France									Part of France
1959
1962	Not affiliated to CAF									Not affiliated to CAF
1963
1965
1968
1970	Did not enter									Did not enter
1972
1974	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	5	6
1976	Withdrew									Withdrew
1978	Did not enter									Did not enter
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	2	7
1990	Did not enter									Did not enter
1992
1994
1996	Withdrew									Withdrew
1998	Disqualified									Disqualified
2000	Did not enter									Did not enter
2002	Did not qualify									2	0	1	1	1	3
2004										6	0	2	4	3	9
2006	Withdrew									Withdrew
2008	Did not enter									Did not enter
2010	Withdrew									Withdrew
2012	Did not qualify									6	2	2	2	5	5
2013										4	2	1	1	6	6
2015										2	0	1	1	1	3
2017										6	3	1	2	9	11
2019										6	1	3	2	4	8
2021										6	1	1	4	5	11
2023										6	2	1	3	9	7
2025	To be determined
2027
Total	–	0/34	–	–	–	–	–	–		48	12	13	23	50	76

As of 27 March 2023 after match against   Madagascar

  Positive Record   Neutral Record   Negative Record

Opponent	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Algeria	3	1	0	2	2	5	−3
Angola	3	1	0	2	4	6	−2
Bhutan	1	1	0	0	6	0	+6
Botswana	2	1	0	1	4	3	+1
Burkina Faso	5	1	1	3	4	9	−5
Burundi	2	1	1	0	4	2	+2
Cameroon	9	2	1	6	14	26	−12
Cape Verde	2	0	1	1	2	3	−1
Chad	8	3	1	4	12	11	+1
Congo	14	1	1	12	12	33	−21
DR Congo	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
Ghana	1	0	1	0	1	1	0
Guinea	3	0	1	2	2	4	−2
Guinea-Bissau	2	0	1	1	1	3	−2
Ivory Coast	5	1	1	3	5	19	−14
Kenya	1	1	0	0	3	2	+1
Liberia	3	0	1	2	2	5	−3
Libya	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Madagascar	7	4	2	1	14	8	+6
Mali	2	0	0	2	4	7	−3
Malta	1	0	0	1	1	2	−1
Mauritania	2	0	0	2	0	3	−3
Morocco	5	0	2	3	1	10	−9
Mozambique	2	0	1	1	1	2	−2
Niger	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2
Nigeria	2	1	0	1	1	2	−1
Rwanda	4	1	1	2	4	10	−6
Papua New Guinea	1	1	0	0	4	0	+4
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
Sudan	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Tanzania	3	1	0	2	4	6	−2
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	134	30	28	78	153	262	−109

End of each year only

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