Central_African_Republic_national_football_team

Central African Republic national football team

Central African Republic national football team

Men's national association football team representing the Central African Republic

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Central African Republic women's national football team.

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.[3][4]

Quick Facts Nickname(s), Association ...

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 (2009–2019)

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.[5]

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;[6] however, the match ended in a 2–1 defeat and a drop to third place.[7] 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.[8]

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.

Results and fixtures

Main article: Central African Republic national football team results

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

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)
17 June 2023 2023 AFCON qualification Central African Republic  1–2  Angola Douala, Cameroon
15:00 UTC+1
Report
Stadium: Stade de la Réunification
Referee: Redouane Jiyed (Moroccan)
7 September 2023 (2023-09-07) 2023 AFCON qualification Ghana  2–1  Central African Republic Kumasi, Ghana
16:00 UTC±0
Report
Stadium: Baba Yara Stadium
Referee: Peter Waweru (Kenya)
17 November 2026 World Cup Qualification Comoros  4–2  Central African Republic Moroni, Comoros
16:00 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: Stade de Moroni
Referee: Ibrahim Kalilou Traore (Ivory Coast)
20 November 2026 World Cup Qualification Mali  1–1  Central African Republic Bamako, Mali
19:00 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: Stade du 26 Mars
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Georges Gatogato (Burundi)

2024

22 March 2024 FIFA World Series Central African Republic  6–0  Bhutan Colombo, Sri Lanka
15:00 UTC+5:30
Report Stadium: Colombo Racecourse
Referee: Mohamed Jafran (Sri Lanka)
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[9]
Referee: Hettikamkanamge Perera (Sri Lanka)
June 2026 World Cup Qualification Central African Republic  v  Chad TBD, Central African Republic
June 2026 World Cup Qualification Ghana  v  Central African Republic TBD, Ghana

2025

March 2026 World Cup Qualification Central African Republic  v  Madagascar TBD, Central African Republic
March 2026 World Cup Qualification Mali  v  Central African Republic TBD, Mali
September 2026 World Cup Qualification Madagascar  v  Central African Republic TBD, Madagascar
September 2026 World Cup Qualification Central African Republic  v  Comoros TBD, Central African Republic
October 2026 World Cup Qualification Central African Republic  v  Ghana TBD, Central African Republic
March 2026 World Cup Qualification Chad  v  Central African Republic TBD, Chad

Coaching history

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Players

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.[10]

Caps and goals as of 25 March 2024, after the match against Papua New Guinea.[11]

More information No., Pos. ...

Recent call-ups

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

More information Pos., Player ...

Records

As of 20 November 2023[12]
Players in bold are still active with Central African Republic.

Most appearances

Foxi Kéthévoama is Central African Republic's most capped player with 48 appearances.
More information Rank, Player ...

Top goalscorers

More information Rank, Player ...

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

More information FIFA World Cup, Qualification ...

Africa Cup of Nations

More information Africa Cup of Nations record, Qualification record ...

Head-to-head record

As of 27 March 2023 after match against  Madagascar[13]

  Positive Record   Neutral Record   Negative Record

More information Opponent, Pld ...

FIFA ranking history

End of each year only

Achievements

Notes

    References

    1. [1]
      "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
    2. [2]
      Barrie Courtney. "Central African Republic – List of International Matches". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
    3. [3]
      "Éliminatoires CAN 2019: La liste des 23 fauves pour affronter la Guinée". Centrafrique Football (in French). Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
    4. [4]
      "CAR national football team 2018". national-football-teams.com. National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
    5. [5]
      "Central African Republic 0–1 Mauritania". CAF. 30 March 2021.
    6. [6]
      "AFCON 2023 (Q): Central African Republic one step away from glory". Sport News Africa. 17 June 2023. Archived from the original on 17 June 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
    7. [7]
      "Goals and Highlights: Central African Republic 1-2 Angola in Africa Cup Of Nations Qualifiers". vavel.com. 17 June 2023. Archived from the original on 17 June 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
    8. [8]
      "Kudus, Nuamah goals secure Afcon 2023 place for Ghana". BBC Sport. 7 September 2023.
    9. [9]
      "Match Report of Central African Republic vs Papua New Guinea 2024-03-25 FIFA Series". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
    10. [10]
      "Centrafrique : la liste pour le FIFA Series sans Kondogbia" (in French). afrik-foot.com. 14 March 2024.
    11. [11]
      "Central African Republic - Papua Nuova Guinea". 25 March 2024.
    12. [12]
      "Central African Republic". National Football Teams.
    13. [13]
      "World Football Elo Ratings: Central African Republic". Elo Ratings. Archived from the original on 18 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
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