Central African Republic 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 have had some 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.<ref name=elim>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=car>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

History

Early years (1956–1989)

Central African Republic Team in 1972

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)

Hugo Gambor played his first game for the Central African Republic in 2024

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> however, the match ended in a 2–1 defeat and a drop to third place.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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

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

Coaching history

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

• Template:Flagicon Evgeni Rogov (1973-1976)
• Template:Flagicon Jean-Jacques Ombi (?-?)
• Template:Flagicon Étienne Momokoamas (2004-2006)
• Template:Flagicon Francois Yanguere (2006-2008)
• Template:Flagicon Jules Accorsi (2010–2012)
• Template:Flagicon Herve Lougoundji (2012–2014)
• Template:Flagicon Raoul Savoy (2014–2015)
• Template:Flagicon Blaise Kopogo (2015)
• Template:Flagicon Herve Lougoundji (2015–2017)
• Template:Flagicon Raoul Savoy (2017–2019)
• Template:Flagicon François Zahoui (2019–2021)
• Template:Flagicon Raoul Savoy (2021–2024)
• Template:Flagicon Eloge Enza Yamissi (2024-25)
• Template:Flagicon Rigobert Song (2025-)

Players

Current squad

The following players were selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Ghana and Chad on 8 and 12 October 2025 respectively.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Caps and goals as of 12 October 2025, after the match against Chad.

Recent call-ups

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

Template:Nat fs r start Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break ^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. Template:Nat fs end

Records

Template:Updated<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.

Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Foxi Kéthévoama	49	8	2002–2021
2	Geoffrey Lembet	40	0	2010–present
3	Franklin Anzité	37	0	2010–2019
4	Nicaise Zimbori-Auzingoni	36	2	2011–2018
5	Hilaire Momi	33	10	2007–2018
	Saint-Cyr Ngam Ngam	33	0	2015–2022
	Trésor Toropité	33	6	2013–present
8	Salif Kéïta	31	3	2007–2021
	Sadock Ndobé	31	0	2017–present
10	Eloge Enza-Yamissi	30	1	2010–2020
	Vianney Mabidé	30	5	2010–2020
	Louis Mafouta	30	16	2017–present

Top goalscorers

Rank	Player	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Louis Mafouta	16	30	{{#expr:16/30 round 2}}	2017–present
2	Hilaire Momi	10	33	{{#expr:10/33 round 2}}	2007–2018
3	Foxi Kéthévoama	8	49	{{#expr:8/49 round 2}}	2002–2021
4	Tresór Toropité	6	33	{{#expr:6/33 round 2}}	2014–present
5	Vianney Mabidé	5	30	{{#expr:5/30 round 2}}	2010–2020
6	Moussa Limane	4	13	{{#expr:4/13 round 2}}	2013–2017
	Karl Namnganda	4	25	{{#expr:4/25 round 2}}	2021–present
	Junior Gourrier	4	27	{{#expr:4/27 round 2}}	2007–2021
9	Tieri Godame	3	6	{{#expr:3/6 round 2}}	2024–present
	Isaac Ngoma	3	14	{{#expr:3/14 round 2}}	2021–present
	Vénuste Baboula	3	17	{{#expr:3/17 round 2}}	2023–present
	Geoffrey Kondogbia	3	20	{{#expr:3/20 round 2}}	2018–present
	Salif Kéïta	3	31	{{#expr:3/31 round 2}}	2007–2021

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record										FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip*	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip		Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip*	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
Template:Flagicon 1930	Not a FIFA member									Not a FIFA member
Template:Flagicon 1934
Template:Flagicon 1938
Template:Flagicon 1950
Template:Flagicon 1954
Template:Flagicon 1958
Template:Flagicon 1962
Template:Flagicon 1966	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1970
Template:Flagicon 1974
Template:Flagicon 1978	Withdrew									Withdrew
Template:Flagicon 1982	Disqualified during qualifying									Disqualified during qualifying
Template:Flagicon 1986	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1990
Template:Flagicon 1994
Template:Flagicon 1998
Template:Nobreak	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	1	4
Template:Flagicon 2006	Withdrew									Withdrew
Template:Flagicon 2010
Template:Flagicon 2014	Did not qualify									6	1	0	5	5	12
Template:Flagicon 2018										2	0	1	1	2	5
Template:Flagicon 2022										6	1	1	4	4	9
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2026										10	2	2	6	11	24
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2030	To be determined									To be determined
Template:Flagicon 2034
Total	–	Template:Tooltip	–	–	–	–	–	–		26	4	4	18	23	54

Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations record										Africa Cup of Nations qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip*	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip		Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip*	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
Template:Flagicon 1957	Part of France									Part of France
Template:Flagicon 1959
Template:Flagicon 1962	Not affiliated to CAF									Not affiliated to CAF
Template:Flagicon 1963
Template:Flagicon 1965
Template:Flagicon 1968
Template:Flagicon 1970	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1972
Template:Flagicon 1974	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	5	6
Template:Flagicon 1976	Withdrew									Withdrew
Template:Flagicon 1978	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1980
Template:Flagicon 1982
Template:Flagicon 1984
Template:Flagicon 1986
Template:Flagicon 1988	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	2	7
Template:Flagicon 1990	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1992
Template:Flagicon 1994
Template:Flagicon 1996	Withdrew									Withdrew
Template:Flagicon 1998	Disqualified									Disqualified
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2000	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 2002	Did not qualify									2	0	1	1	1	3
Template:Flagicon 2004										6	0	2	4	3	9
Template:Flagicon 2006	Withdrew									Withdrew
Template:Flagicon 2008	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 2010	Withdrew									Withdrew
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2012	Did not qualify									6	2	2	2	5	5
Template:Flagicon 2013										4	2	1	1	6	6
Template:Flagicon 2015										2	0	1	1	1	3
Template:Flagicon 2017										6	3	1	2	9	11
Template:Flagicon 2019										6	1	3	2	4	8
Template:Flagicon 2021										6	1	1	4	5	11
Template:Flagicon 2023										6	2	1	3	9	7
Template:Flagicon 2025										6	1	0	5	3	14
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2027	To be determined									To be determined
Template:Flagicon 2029
Total	–	Template:Tooltip	–	–	–	–	–	–		54	13	13	28	53	90

African Nations Championship

African Nations Championship record										African Nations Championship qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip*	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip		Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip*	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
Template:Flagicon 2009	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 2011
Template:Flagicon 2014	Withdrew									Withdrew
Template:Flagicon 2016
Template:Flagicon 2018	Disqualified									Disqualified
Template:Flagicon 2020	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	1	6
Template:Flagicon 2022										2	1	0	1	2	2
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2024	Group stage	18th	4	0	1	3	2	7		2	1	0	1	2	2
Total	Group stage	Template:Tooltip	4	0	1	3	2	7		6	2	0	4	5	10

Head-to-head record

As of 12 October 2025 after match against Chad<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Opponent	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Template:Fb	3	1	0	2	2	5	−3
Template:Fb	4	1	0	3	5	8	−3
Template:Fb	1	1	0	0	6	0	+6
Template:Fb	2	1	0	1	4	3	+1
Template:Fb	6	1	1	4	6	13	−7
Template:Fb	2	1	1	0	4	2	+2
Template:Fb	9	2	1	6	14	26	−12
Template:Fb	2	0	1	1	2	3	−1
Template:Fb	10	6	1	3	16	12	+4
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	2	6	−4
Template:Fb	14	1	1	12	12	33	−21
Template:Fb	9	1	1	7	8	30	−22
Template:Fb	4	0	2	2	6	11	−5
Template:Fb	2	1	1	0	4	3	+1
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	1	4	−3
Template:Fb	15	3	4	8	13	23	−10
Template:Fb	2	0	1	1	2	3	−1
Template:Fb	4	0	1	3	5	12	–7
Template:Fb	4	0	2	2	3	5	−2
Template:Fb	2	0	1	1	1	3	−2
Template:Fb	5	1	1	3	5	19	−14
Template:Fb	1	1	0	0	3	2	+1
Template:Fb	2	1	0	1	3	2	+1
Template:Fb	3	0	1	2	2	5	−3
Template:Fb	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Template:Fb	10	4	2	4	15	16	–1
Template:Fb	4	0	2	2	5	8	−3
Template:Fb	1	0	0	1	1	2	−1
Template:Fb	4	0	0	4	1	6	−5
Template:Fb	7	0	2	5	1	19	−18
Template:Fb	2	0	1	1	1	2	−2
Template:Fb	2	1	1	0	2	0	+2
Template:Fb	2	1	0	1	1	2	−1
Template:Fb	4	1	1	2	4	10	−6
Template:Fb	1	1	0	0	4	0	+4
Template:Fb	2	2	0	0	5	1	+4
Template:Fb	1	0	0	1	0	3	−3
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	0	5	−5
Template:Fb	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Template:Fb	4	1	1	2	4	6	−2
Template:Fb	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1
Template:Fb	1	0	0	1	0	3	−3
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	1	4	−3
Total	159	34	33	94	173	313	−140

FIFA ranking history

End of each year only Template:Graph:Chart

Honours

Regional

• CEMAC Cup
  • Template:Gold1 Champions (1): 2009
  • Template:Silver2 Runners-up (1): 2003
• UNIFAC Cup
  • Template:Silver2 Runners-up (1): 1999

Friendly

• FIFA Series (1): 2024 Sri Lanka

External links

• Facebook CFA Football Association Official profile
• Central African Republic at CAF
• Central African Republic at FIFA

Template:Central African Republic national football team managers Template:Football in the Central African Republic Template:UNIFFAC football {{#invoke:navbox|navbox | name = CAF teams | title = National football teams of Africa (CAF) |listclass = hlist |group1 = North Africa (UNAF) |list1 =

• Algeria
• Egypt
• Libya
• Morocco
• Tunisia

|group2 = West Africa (WAFU) |list2 =

• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Cape Verde
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Ivory Coast
• Liberia
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Togo

|group3 = East Africa (CECAFA) |list3 =

• Burundi
• Djibouti
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Kenya
• Rwanda
• Somalia
• South Sudan
• Sudan
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• Zanzibar¹

|group4 = Central Africa (UNIFFAC) |list4 =

• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Congo
• DR Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Gabon
• São Tomé and Príncipe

|group5 = Southern Africa (COSAFA) |list5 =

• Angola
• Botswana
• Comoros
• Eswatini
• Lesotho
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Seychelles
• South Africa
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

|group6 = Non-regional Members |list6 =

• Réunion¹

|below= ¹ Regional team, an associate member of CAF but not a member of FIFA

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{{#invoke:portal-inline|main|size=tiny|Football in Africa}} }} Template:National sports teams of the Central African Republic