DR Congo are preparing to face England in the World Cup last 32, a fixture that caps a historic campaign uniting a nation fractured by decades of conflict and regional division. The Leopards’ qualification has sparked celebrations from Kinshasa to the occupied eastern provinces, offering a rare moment of cohesion in a country where 21 of the 26 squad members grew up abroad.
A Squad Built Abroad
The composition of the DR Congo squad reflects the vast global diaspora. Twenty-one players were raised outside the country, with several switching allegiance from European youth systems. Former England youth internationals Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe and Aaron Tshibola are all expected to feature against the Three Lions on Wednesday, having represented the Leopards after playing for English junior sides.
This diaspora connection has not diluted the team’s bond with home. Newcastle striker Wissa has used his platform to highlight the beauty of eastern Congo, a region often defined by violence. Despite the M23 rebel movement occupying parts of North and South Kivu, Wissa showcased the area’s volcanic landscapes and wildlife during a 2022 visit, reminding supporters that the region remains “so much more than a battlefield.”
Unity Across Divide
Football has achieved what politics has struggled to deliver. The vast distances between Kinshasa and the eastern provinces—separated by 2,500 kilometres of rainforest and poor roads—have historically bred mutual isolation. Different languages, ethnic identities and the ongoing M23 occupation have deepened these fractures.
Yet victories over Portugal and Uzbekistan triggered nationwide celebrations. Veron Mosengo Omba, president of the Congolese Football Federation, described the scenes as deeply moving. “Even in the occupied areas of eastern Congo, you see people coming out into the streets to dance. It’s incredible … What these young players have given us is an unexpected gift,” he said.
President Félix Tshisekedi struck a similar tone, stating: “Every victory, every flag raised, strengthens our pride, our national identity and the invisible foundations of our unity.” From Lubumbashi to Goma, supporters have sung the national anthem together, waving Congolese flags deep into the night.
England Await
Wissa articulated the squad’s motivation ahead of the England fixture. “We deserve to play England,” he said when the match-up was confirmed. “We have worked hard for this. You know, it’s not easy in our country. There is war in eastern Congo. Every time we wear this shirt, we think about them.”
The encounter represents more than sporting progress for a nation of 116 million people. In a country with hundreds of ethnic communities and four official languages, the national team has become one of the few institutions commanding trust across political and regional lines. Whether the Leopards advance or depart, their campaign has already provided what Mosengo Omba termed an “unexpected gift”—a shared identity transcending the divisions of geography and conflict.