The Congo DR U-20 national football team, widely known as the Small Leopards, represents the Democratic Republic of the Congo at under-20 international level. The side is administered by the Congolese Association Football Federation and operates as the principal feeder team for the senior Congo DR national side, serving as the primary pathway through which young Congolese players develop and progress into full international football.
The Small Leopards participate in the FIFA U-20 World Cup qualifying cycle as well as the Africa Cup of Nations at under-20 level, with the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations representing one of the team's most recent competitive engagements. That tournament, held between late April and mid-May 2025, saw Congo DR among the competing nations on the continental stage.
The team plays a meaningful role in the broader development of football across the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country with a rich footballing tradition at senior level. By providing structured competition and international exposure for emerging talent, the Small Leopards help sustain the pipeline of players who go on to represent the senior Leopards. The identity of the side is closely tied to its purpose as a developmental unit, and its fortunes are naturally watched with interest by fans who see it as a window into the future of Congolese football.