[World Cup 2026] 52 years after the nightmare of the 9-0 defeat against Yugoslavia, DR Congo seeks redemption

More than fifty years after its first and only appearance in a final tournament, the Democratic Republic of Congo is finally back at the FIFA World Cup. The Leopards arrive on the American continent with the firm ambition of writing a new glorious chapter in their sporting history and definitively erasing the painful memory of the 1974 edition.

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This historic qualification inevitably revives memories of the country's only previous World Cup campaign, held in Germany under the former name of Zaire. At the time, the Leopards arrived in Europe as reigning African champions after their memorable victory at the 1974 Africa Cup of Nations. However, the adventure quickly turned into a nightmare for Mwamba Kazadi and his teammates. Completely overwhelmed by the intensity and pace of the competition, the Congolese suffered three consecutive defeats, including a crushing 9-0 thrashing by Yugoslavia, before losing more respectably to Brazil (3-0) and Scotland (2-0). This debacle remains one of the most harrowing experiences in the history of African national teams at the World Cup.

Fifty-two years later, the Democratic Republic of Congo makes its grand return to the international stage with the ambition of shattering that old glass ceiling. Having qualified after a hard-fought battle through the playoff matches, the Leopards intend to demonstrate the immense progress made by Congolese football and leave a positive mark on this 23rd edition of the competition.

To meet this significant challenge, French coach Sébastien Desabre is relying on an experienced and competitive squad, composed of several key players competing at the highest level of European leagues. Iconic captain Chancel Mbemba, full-back Arthur Masuaku, midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy, as well as forwards Yoane Wissa and Cédric Bakambu, all played a crucial role in this qualifying campaign and will be the team's main assets.

The mission, however, promises to be particularly challenging in the first round. Drawn in Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo will need to deliver world-class performances to have any hope of advancing from this group and progressing beyond the group stage. But beyond mere statistical achievement, the Congolese players are driven by a much deeper motivation: to exorcise the trauma of 1974 and prove that the new generation is ready to raise the DRC's flag high.