Eleven provincial leagues will compete in the 2026 Congolese Judo Cup running from October 16 to 18 at the twin gymnasium of the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa, according to official announcements from the national governing body.
Nicolas Lianza, coordinator of the National Congolese Judo Federation, confirmed the tournament structure during briefings detailing the return of the national competition to the capital. The event marks the first major evaluation stage organized directly under the executive committee of the federation. During a press briefing organized on Wednesday, October 14 in Kinshasa, federation president Nico Lianza Likwale was accompanied by secretary Alain Tshilungu, assistant coordinator Patrick Kalala, and treasurer Athos Kiadi.
Provincial Representation Overhaul at the Stade des Martyrs
The 2026 tournament arrives with a strict mandate regarding provincial representation. Federation leadership stated during a press briefing in Kinshasa that previous editions occasionally featured athletes representing provinces other than their actual home regions. To correct this, the organizing committee implemented an integrated management system and club modules to verify athlete origins before registration.
This edition features athletes competing directly for their respective regional leagues alongside Kinshasa representatives. Of the eleven expected delegations, seven leagues arrived early to set up camp in the capital: Kinshasa, Kongo Central, Tshopo, Haut-Uele, Nord-Kivu, Kwilu, and Équateur.
Individual Bouts and Team Confrontations Schedule
Competition unfolds across three dedicated tatami surfaces inside the Stade des Martyrs gymnasium. The schedule divides the three-day tournament into specific formats for individual fighters and team rosters.
The opening two days feature individual brackets across fourteen total categories, splitting men and female competitors evenly into seven weight classes each. The final day shifts entirely to team combat, pitching the provincial leagues against one another in direct elimination fixtures. Nico Lianza Likwale stated that cette compétition nationale se disputera selon deux formules, dans les épreuves individuelles et par équipe.
Alongside the standard provincial entries, the reigning champions of the Kinshasa Supercup enter the tournament as special invited guests.
National Team Selection and Scouting Objectives
Beyond national medals and trophies, the tournament serves as a primary talent-identification window for the Leopards judo national team. Federation officials stated that technical staff will evaluate athlete performance to reorganize the senior selection ahead of upcoming continental and international competitions. The event functions as an immediate test of depth and competitiveness across the participating provincial leagues.
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