The Democratic Republic of Congo head into their FIFA World Cup Round of 32 showdown against England with belief rather than fear, as head coach Sébastien Desabre insists his side is determined to seize a historic opportunity rather than simply celebrate reaching the knockout stage.
Ahead of Wednesday’s clash in Atlanta, Desabre delivered a clear message to his players, urging them to embrace the occasion and continue writing a remarkable chapter in Congolese football.
“We’re going to do everything we can to qualify. That’s what I’ve told the players, and it’s what they keep telling each other. We see this as a great opportunity to achieve another remarkable feat, rather than simply coming here to experience the Round of 16.”
DR Congo national football team reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since their only previous appearance in 1974, returning to the global stage after a 52-year absence. Their campaign has already produced several historic milestones, including the nation’s first World Cup goal, first World Cup victory and first qualification for the knockout rounds.
Despite facing one of the tournament favourites, Desabre believes the pressure rests firmly on England rather than his own players.
“We don’t have much to lose, but it is also a source of motivation. If we’re here, it’s because we deserve it,” the French coach said. “The pressure is on the England team. They need to keep moving forward towards their objectives.”
The Leopards earned widespread admiration during the group stage, holding Portugal to a draw, narrowly losing to Colombia and producing a dramatic 3-1 comeback victory over Uzbekistan to secure one of the tournament’s best third-place qualification spots. Their disciplined defensive structure and clinical counter-attacking style have made them one of the surprise packages of the competition.
Since taking charge in 2022, Desabre has overseen a remarkable transformation of Congolese football. The former Uganda coach guided DR Congo to the semi-finals of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations before leading them through a demanding qualification campaign that ended the country’s five-decade World Cup exile.
Although England enter the contest as overwhelming favourites, Desabre believes rankings alone will not decide the outcome.
“England is ranked fourth in the world. We are 41st, so naturally there is a gap. That said, we have shown in matches that we are tactically capable of competing with nations like Portugal and others,” he said.
For DR Congo, the knockout tie represents far more than a meeting with one of football’s traditional heavyweights. It is another opportunity to redefine expectations, continue one of the tournament’s most inspiring stories and move one step closer to an unprecedented World Cup run.