President Félix Tshisékédi of the Democratic Republic of Congo declared the nation’s intention to bid for the hosting rights of the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations in 2029. Making the announcement during a press briefing on Thursday, February 22, 2024, President Tshisékédi outlined the country’s ambitious plans to compete for the opportunity to host the tournament for the first time in its history.

Expressing strong support for the Football Association of the Democratic Republic of Congo (Fecofa), President Tshisékédi emphasized his commitment to preparing a compelling application to compete against other potential host candidates. The nation is set to launch infrastructure development initiatives to meet the necessary standards for hosting such a significant sporting event.

In addition to the bid for the 2029 edition, DR Congo is already gearing up to apply for the 2031 Africa Cup of Nations in case the bid for the earlier edition is unsuccessful.

DR Congo recently participated in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, where they faced South Africa in the third-place match, with South Africa emerging victorious.