The Central African Republic national football team formed in 1961. The team affiliated to FIFA in 1963 and joined the Confederation of African Football in 1965. The team has long been one of the least successful on the continent.
The team’s first game came in 1960, a year before the football federation officially formed. The Central African Republic lost 4-3 to Mali. The team’s biggest margin of victory is an underwhelming three goals. This record has been achieved twice, in a 4-1 win over Chad and a 3-0 victory over São Tomé and Príncipe. Both matches were in 1999, a year of great progression for the team. The Central African Republic’s greatest loss was a 1984 7-1 defeat to Cameroon.
The Central African Republic first attempted to enter the 1982 world cup. However, the team was disqualified before a ball was kicked as they did not pay the entry fee. The team tried again in the 2002 qualifying campaign, this time managing to make the field. In a two-legged tie against Zimbabwe the team lost 4-1 on aggregate. Despite the first round elimination, the team needed the chance to play a first world cup qualifying game and scored their first goal.
Ranked 105th by FIFA, Central African Republic could move higher given a longer run in qualification.
World cup 2018
Fixtures to be announced.
Find out more
- Central African Republic national football team website.
- Confederation of African Football qualifying.