Kinshasa, DR Congo – The Democratic Republic of Congo’s national football team, the Leopards, returned home to a rapturous reception on Sunday, days after securing qualification for the FIFA World Cup their first appearance on the global stage since 1974.
The team’s arrival at Kinshasa airport, normally a 20-kilometre journey to the city centre, turned into a nearly four-hour procession as tens of thousands of supporters lined the streets. Fans dressed in the national colours of blue, yellow, and red waved flags, beat drums, and blew vuvuzelas as the team bus slowly made its way through the capital.
“I promised them that if they took us to the World Cup, the Congolese people and the Congolese government would do whatever they asked,” President Félix Tshisekedi said. “Every Leopard player here has already been given a car and a house by the government.”
A Collective Victory
Team captain Chancel Mbemba emphasized that the qualification was a triumph for the entire nation, not just the players.
“We did not fight alone; you have stood by us from the very beginning, and the honour belongs to the whole country. Others started before us, and now it is our turn, today, and we will fight for this country. Thank you very much,” Mbemba said.
The celebrations continued at the Palais du Peuple, where thousands more fans packed the esplanade, wearing jerseys and outfits in national colours. Chants, music, and vuvuzelas turned the area into a sea of blue, yellow, and red, demonstrating the unifying power of football in a country long marked by political and security challenges.
“It’s an honour, and the president paid the players the tribute they deserve,” said university student Kevin Nsimbi, a fan attending the celebrations. “They’ve made enormous sacrifices… they gave it their all right to the end, they never gave up, they were fully focused, and congratulations to them.”
Looking Ahead to the World Cup
With the festivities still in full swing, attention is already turning to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the Americas. DR Congo will face Portugal on 17 June in Houston, Colombia on 23 June in Guadalajara, and Uzbekistan on 27 June in Atlanta during the group stage.
For the Leopards and their supporters, the message is clear: after 52 years away from the World Cup, DR Congo is back and determined to make an impact on football’s biggest stage.
