Orange DRC to boost Leopards’ World Cup campaign

The Congolese Federation of Football Association (FECOFA) has officially entered into a high-profile partnership agreement with the nation’s leading mobile telecommunications giant, Orange DRC.

The strategic deal is designed to galvanise support and bolster morale for the national team, the Leopards, ahead of their highly anticipated appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals. According to FECOFA media and the Africa Monde website, the agreement marks a significant commercial milestone for Congolese football.

FECOFA Secretary General (SG), Lyly Tshimpumpu, and Orange DRC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Brutus Sadou Diakite, formally signed the partnership on Wednesday, May 6, during a ceremony held at the Sultani Hotel in Kinshasa.

Alignment with World Cup ambitions

In her address, the FECOFA SG lauded the agreement, noting that it establishes a solid foundation for expansive collaboration in football development that will extend well beyond the upcoming global showpiece.

“This partnership is a key component in the broader development of football within the DR Congo, cutting across our various national teams and different age categories,” Tshimpumpu stated.

She further elaborated that the partnership aims to maximise Orange DRC’s brand visibility, with the company’s logo set to feature prominently on the Leopards’ official merchandise, including training apparel and tracksuits.

A digital boost for DRC football

The collaboration is not limited to physical branding; it also extends to innovative digital initiatives. This includes interactive fan engagement projects such as quizzes designed to test the public’s knowledge of the Leopards’ history, World Cup trivia, and general footballing facts.

The Orange DRC CEO characterised the agreement as being far more than a mere commercial transaction, describing the union as a “homecoming” for the brand. During the ceremony, FECOFA and Orange DRC exchanged ceremonial pennants, and the SG presented a personalised national team jersey to the Orange DRC chief to commemorate the deal.

The Leopards’ historic path to the finals

The Leopards secured their historic World Cup berth after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Jamaica in an inter-continental play-off held in Mexico on Tuesday, March 31.

The decisive goal came from Burnley FC defender Axel Tuanzebe, whose strike was enough to secure the DRC a return to the world stage for the first time in 52 years.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The DRC has been drawn into Group K, where they will face formidable opposition in the form of Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan.

The Leopards will represent the continent alongside a strong African contingent, including Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Egypt.