DR Congo's Historic World Cup Journey Ends with Narrow Loss to England

DR Congo's World Cup Adventure Concludes

Kinshasa [DR Congo], July 2: President Moise Katumbi of DR Congo praised the men's national football team following their exit in the round of 32 at the ongoing FIFA World Cup, where they faced England and lost 2-1 on Wednesday.

Despite an early lead established by Brian Cipenga in the seventh minute, which allowed DR Congo to dominate much of the match, England's captain Harry Kane turned the tide with two late goals in the 75th and 86th minutes, securing England's advancement to the round of 16 against Mexico.

In a post on X, Katumbi commended the "valiant Leopards" and head coach Sebastien Desabre for bringing joy to the Congolese people with their historic qualification for the knockout stage, expressing pride in their performance.

"To our brave #Leopards and Coach Desabre, thank you! Your incredible journey in this World Cup has brought comfort to all Congolese during a time of division in our nation. You were heroic today, and we are proud of you!" Katumbi shared.

A nos vaillants #Léopards et au Coach Desabre, je veux dire merci!

Au-delà de votre fabuleux parcours lors de cette Coupe du Monde, vous avez réussi l’exploit de mettre du baume au coeur de tous les Congolais alors que notre Nation est si profondément divisée.

Aujourd’hui…

— Moise Katumbi (@moise_katumbi) July 1, 2026

Participating in the World Cup for the first time in 52 years, DR Congo leaves with many positive memories.

The team delivered an impressive performance in their knockout match, with Brian Cipenga stunning England by scoring the opening goal in the seventh minute, marking his first international goal.

DR Congo's disciplined defense and aggressive pressing frustrated England throughout the first half, limiting their scoring opportunities while goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi made several crucial saves. They went into halftime with a well-deserved 1-0 lead in their inaugural World Cup knockout match.

In response, England's manager Thomas Tuchel made attacking substitutions in the second half, bringing on Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka, followed by Eberechi Eze, as they ramped up the pressure.

Harry Kane finally broke through DR Congo's defense in the 75th minute, scoring from close range after sustained pressure. He sealed the comeback with his second goal in the 86th minute, leading to a 2-1 victory for England and their progression to the Round of 16 against co-hosts Mexico.

Although DR Congo's journey ended in defeat, they surpassed expectations throughout the tournament. They began their Group K campaign with a 1-1 draw against Portugal, narrowly lost 1-0 to Colombia, and secured their knockout stage spot with a remarkable 3-1 win over Uzbekistan, marking the most memorable World Cup run for the nation in over fifty years.