Atlanta (AFP) – DR Congo’s long road to a first World Cup in 52 years has been beset by challenges that their English opponents in the last 32 on Wednesday could scarcely imagine.
Issued on: 30/06/2026 - 04:26
3 min Reading time
Despite having to navigate 13 qualifiers, a pre-tournament quarantine due to an Ebola outbreak and the instability caused by decades of conflict, the war-torn nation is making its mark on the global stage."It's not easy in our country," said Yoane Wissa after his two goals secured his nation's first World Cup win against Uzbekistan and a meeting against England, where the Newcastle striker has played his club football for the past five years.That is by no means the only English connection in the squad.Aaron Wan-Bissaka was born in London and played for England to under-21 level. Axel Tuanzebe also represented the Three Lions at youth level and could come up against his former schoolmate and teammate Marcus Rashford in Atlanta.Of the 26-man squad, 20 were born outside of Congo -- the majority, like Wissa, in France.The battle for the mineral-rich East Congo has sparked a decades-long conflict between a litany of armed groups and forced families to flee, seeking security in Europe."There's a war in East Congo. Every day, every time we wear this shirt, we think about them," added Wissa."Because we want peace and for them, I just say 'thank you'. Thank you because we came from far. We came from nothing to be here. Now we write our story with a black pen and we need to be proud."
