FIFA WC 2026: DR Congo is officially now on a mission
The Leopards were celebrated in Kinshasa after their historic qualification for the World Cup, 52 years after their only and unique participation. After the honors, Sébastien Desabre and his men were sent on a mission.
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
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A house, a luxury vehicle and a presidential bonus whose amount has not been revealed: this is the reward promised to each player and member of the technical staff of the DRC national team, qualified for the 2026 World Cup. It was the President of the Republic, Félix Tshisekedi, who announced it during the celebration of the Leopards on Sunday in Kinshasa.
Sébastien Desabre and his players were welcomed as heroes by the Kinois after having achieved the feat of qualifying the DRC for the World Cup, 52 years after their last participation. Félix Tshisekedi hopes that the DRC will now regularly take part in the competition.
"I thank Coach Desabre because it is thanks to him that all this happened. Thank you also to our players for this achievement. I know that many of you were not yet born when the DRC took part in its first World Cup in 1974, but I promise you that we will no longer miss the World Cup. We will be there in 2030 as well as 2034, and so on,”
he said.
Do not replicate the 1974 expedition
The qualification is acquired, but the Leopards now have a mission: to wash away the affront of their elders from 1974 who had conceded three defeats, including a memorable correction (9-0) against former Yugoslavia. The 2026 generation is called to do better.
For the former Minister of Sports, Papy Niango, it is necessary to aim at least at the quarter-finals: "The party must stop with the reception of the Leopards by the Head of State. We must now prepare the continuation, because what comes after is the most important. We must not go to this World Cup to lose all our matches; we must aim for the quarter-finals, which is why we have to be serious.
On his part, the team captain, Chancel Mbemba, indicated that the fight continues:
"Thank you to the president of the Republic and the government for the support, thank you to the Minister of Sports and the Federation for the great work done. 52 years later, we managed to obtain this qualification together. Thank you to the public for their unwavering support, but the fight continues. We will fight together for the country during this World Cup.”
Housed in group K, the DRC will make their debut on 17 June against Portugal in Houston, before facing Colombia on 24 June in Guadalajara and finishing the pool play against Uzbekistan on 28 June in Atlanta.