Football’s biggest stage delivered another comeback story on June 27, 2026. DR Congo defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 in a Group K fixture at Atlanta Stadium, completing a second-half rally that announced the Leopards as a team no one in this expanded tournament should sleep on.
Fiston Mayele was the name on everyone’s lips by the final whistle. The striker’s 78th-minute goal, DR Congo’s second of the match, flipped the momentum and put the result beyond doubt. Yoane Wissa also found the net as the Leopards turned a deficit into a convincing three-goal performance.
How the match unfolded
Uzbekistan drew first blood, forcing DR Congo into the uncomfortable position of chasing the game in a tournament where every point carries enormous weight. The Leopards did not panic.
The turnaround came through a combination of pressing and clinical finishing in the second half. Wissa’s goal pulled Congo level before Mayele arrived with the decisive moment. A third goal confirmed the scoreline that will sit in the Group K standings.
