Despite a good run, D.R Congo will not be making another final. 

The Leopards made their last final appearance in 1974 and won what still stands as their last TotalEnergies CAF AFCON trophy. 

Before the triumph in 1974, DR Congo formerly known as Zaire, had won the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON for the first time in 1968 in Ethiopia.

D.R Congo started their TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Côte d'lvoire 2023 campaign with three draws but gathered momentum in the knockout phase where they knocked out record holders, Egypt and Guinea in the round of 16 and quarter-finals respectively. 

But the step was too high in the last four against Côte d'Ivoire as they lost by 1-0. 

The DR Congo had not reached this stage of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON since 2015 in Equatorial Guinea, and had been dreaming of reaching the final for 50 years. 

The Leopards will therefore have to pull out all the stops again if they are to claim the bronze medal that will crown a fine TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Côte d'lvoire 2023 when they face South Africa on Saturday, 10 February in Abidjan.