Stade des Martyrs

Stade des Martyrs sits on Boulevard Triomphal in the Lingwala district. The pitch is a green carpet of synthetic turf, replaced with a FIFA Quality Pro certified surface in 2021.

The ground has a history that stretches back to 1994, when it opened as the national stadium, but the name has changed to reflect the times. Originally Stade Kamanyola, it took the name Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte in 1997, a title given to honour four politicians executed years before. It was built by Chinese engineers under a $38 million project that began in 1988.

It is the home of the DR Congo national team, as well as AS Vita Club and Daring Club Motema Pembe. The stadium has hosted the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup Final second leg, a match that ended with AS Vita Club losing to Raja Casablanca. But it is known more for the tragedies that have unfolded within its walls. In 2022, a concert by Fally Ipupa ended with 11 deaths in a stampede. A similar tragedy struck in 2024 during a performance by Mike Kalambay, claiming nine lives.

The capacity is listed at 80,000, a figure that makes the crowds feel dense even when they are not full. When the team plays a qualifier against Senegal or hosts a major ceremony for the Francophone Games, the city gathers here.