DR Congo: a convincing World Cup, and now?

It would be an understatement to say that Sébastien Desabre has had a significant impact on the DRC. He has imposed his style of play and the Congolese team is clearly among the best nations on the continent. His work was validated by their qualification for, and impressive run at, the 2026 World Cup.

A remarkable run at the 2026 World Cup

52 years later, the DRC made its return to the 2026 World Cup. The Congolese team had to fight to get the last African qualification ticket through the Africa zone playoffs, followed by an intercontinental playoff. At the 2026 World Cup, the Leopards were not outclassed.

Though placed in a tough Group K with Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan, the DRC managed to stand out. They held Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal to a draw (1-1) in their first match. They narrowly lost (1-0) to Colombia before defeating Uzbekistan (3-1) thanks to a brace from Yoane Wissa. This was, in fact, the first-ever victory for the Congolese in the history of the tournament.

Having advanced past the first round as one of the 8 best third-placed teams, the Congolese team nearly pulled off an upset in the round of 16 against England. The Leopards led the Three Lions for a long stretch (7th minute, goal by Brian Cipenga) before collapsing in the last 15 minutes of the match. Harry Kane, who scored twice in the 75th and 86th minutes, crushed DR Congo. Despite their elimination, the DRC delivered an honorable performance for a squad inexperienced at this stage of the tournament.

Aiming for victory at AFCON 2027

The results speak for the French coach. In recent years, the team has returned to center stage with remarkable performances. They finished fourth at AFCON 2023 in Côte d'Ivoire. They were eliminated, against all expectations, in the round of 16 by Algeria at AFCON 2025 in Morocco. That letdown was quickly forgotten with qualification for the 2026 World Cup just a few months later.

The Congolese team is now well equipped. On the biggest world stage, they were not humiliated. They held their own against powerhouses like Portugal, Colombia, and England. As a result, the Leopards need to be more ambitious. They clearly must aim for the title at AFCON 2027. This would end a 53-year drought. Their last Africa Cup of Nations win dates back to 1974.

Qualifiers for AFCON 2027 begin in September 2026. DR Congo is drawn into Group E with Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe. Between September 21 and October 6, the Leopards will play their first two matches — against Equatorial Guinea at home and Zimbabwe away.