Kinshasa the beating heart of African Football and host of the 47th CAF Ordinary General Assembly
On 6 October 2025, Kinshasa will proudly host the 47th CAF Ordinary General Assembly. For the Congolese capital, this gathering represents far more than an administrative milestone. It is an opportunity to remind the world that Kinshasa breathes, lives, and dreams football.
“Kinshasa ezali mboka ya sport!” exclaims Jean-Baptiste, a loyal AS Vita Club supporter of more than three decades. In this city, every street corner, every market, and every taxi carries a story of football or a sporting legend.
Kinshasa has also etched its name in global history: who could forget the mythical “Rumble in the Jungle”? On 30 October 1974, Muhammad Ali faced George Foreman at the Stade du 20 Mai, now known as Stade Tata Raphaël.
With his famous “rope-a-dope” strategy, Ali defeated the champion, becoming a beacon of hope and flair for Africa.
If boxing gave Kinshasa its global spotlight, football remains its eternal heartbeat. The iconic Stade des Martyrs is more than a sporting venue—it is a theatre of passion. Every match of the Leopards, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s national team, is a national epic. The chants of the supporters echo with unwavering determination: “Allez Léopards, tokotika te!” (We never give up!).
The city is also home to some of Africa’s most celebrated clubs.
AS Vita Club and DC Motema Pembe light up Kinshasa with derbies that transcend rivalry and deliver pure spectacle.
“When AS Vita plays against DCMP, it is war—but a war of passion!” says Koffi, a jersey vendor in the bustling Lingwala district. These encounters electrify the entire city: car horns echo in rhythm with goals, children recreate their heroes’ moves on dusty pitches, and even offices pause to follow the score.
But Kinshasa is not only a football stage—it is also a place where the game meets diplomacy. Hosting the CAF General Assembly offers African football leaders a venue steeped in history, where the global memory of sport converges with the vibrant energy of local passion.
As preparations intensify ahead of 6 October, the Congolese capital is ready to showcase its legacy. Kinshasa is not just another African city—it is a city that lives sport, breathes football, and transforms every match into legend.
