Democratic Republic of Congo head coach Sébastien Desabre stated that his team has left a remarkably positive image of Congolese football on the global stage despite their elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His remarks followed an intense Round of 32 clash in Atlanta on Wednesday, where the Leopards pushed heavily-favored England to their absolute limits. DR Congo shocked Thomas Tuchel’s side by taking an early lead just seven minutes into the match and maintaining their advantage for over an hour before a late brace by Harry Kane in the final 15 minutes turned the game around, sealing a narrow 2-1 win for the Three Lions.

Reflecting on the match, Desabre emphasized that his players should feel more pride than disappointment, noting that they successfully shattered tournament expectations by playing an aggressive, wide-oriented offensive game rather than falling back into a low defensive block. The tactical display forced England into a grueling physical battle, proving that the African side could go toe-to-toe with the world’s elite. Desabre maintained that forcing one of the tournament favorites to rely on a late rescue act from their captain serves as a moral victory and a massive building block for his squad.

This tournament marked a historic milestone for DR Congo, representing their first World Cup appearance in 52 years since their 1974 debut as Zaire. They finished the group stage campaign as the highest-ranked third-placed finisher following an impressive run that included a hard-fought draw with Portugal and a crucial victory over Uzbekistan. The head coach concluded that this memorable campaign has set a brand-new standard for the national team as they look toward future international competitions.