DR Congo achieves historic first World Cup win and advances to Round of 16

The Democratic Republic of Congo etched its name in history on June 28, 2026, in Atlanta, USA, by securing its first-ever World Cup victory against Uzbekistan and advancing to the Round of 16. This marks a monumental achievement for the nation.

The match was a tense affair, with the first half proving particularly challenging for Sebastien Desabre's squad. Uzbekistan applied significant pressure, and in the 10th minute, E. Shomurodov scored, putting the Congolese team behind at halftime despite their efforts to equalize.

However, the second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum. The Congolese team emerged with renewed determination, maintaining a strong press against their opponents. B. Cipenga netted a superb equalizer in the 53rd minute, and Y. Wissa converted a penalty in the 68th minute to give DRC the lead. The team further solidified their victory with a second goal from Wissa in added time (90'+1), sealing a 3-1 win.

This historic qualification for the knockout stages is a significant moment for Congolese football. The team's last appearance in the World Cup was in 1974, where they did not manage to score a single goal. The current squad's performance represents a new era of success for the Leopards.

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We played very well against a strong team. When facing opponents who allow us to control the game, we are more comfortable. We just didn't manage to score.