After losing 2-1 to England in the FIFA World Cup 2026, DR Congo Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka praised the team. He said that reaching the World Cup after 52 years is a historic achievement and the team has made the country proud.
atlanta [अमेरिका]July 2 (ANI): Democratic Republic of the Congo Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka on Wednesday paid an emotional tribute to the national football team after its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign ended with a narrow 2-1 defeat against England in the Round of 32. Despite this heartbreaking defeat, Tuluka praised the players for the historic achievement of taking DR Congo to the World Cup for the first time in 52 years and said that their performance had inspired millions across the country.
Prime Minister’s emotional message
Taking to social media platform X after the match, the Prime Minister expressed immense national pride at the team’s fighting spirit on the world stage. Sharing a message on Twitter, the Prime Minister wrote, “Brave Leopards, tonight’s result in no way erases your courage, your sacrifice and the pride that you have given to our people. This is not the result we expected, but we should not lose sight of the main things in its wake.”
He added, “By qualifying the Democratic Republic of Congo for the World Cup, 52 years after their last participation, you have achieved a historic feat. Throughout this competition, you have held our country’s flag high and given millions of Congolese the taste of dreaming again. Your journey deserves respect and admiration. It will remain etched in our collective memory as a symbol of a generation that dared to believe in the impossible.”
Tuluka concluded his message by encouraging the team to look to the future with confidence. “Keep your head held high. Even the greatest stories are made from trials. The nation is proud of you. Thank you for writing this beautiful page in the history of Congolese football.”
England vs DR Congo: The thrill of the match
DR Congo gave one of the most impressive performances of the knockout stage, although they eventually lost to England. Brian Sipenga stunned the Three Lions (England) by scoring the opening goal in the seventh minute. He scored his first international goal, finishing at the back post after a sharp counter-attack.
The African team frustrated England in the first half with disciplined defense and aggressive pressing, denying them clear chances, while goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi made several crucial saves. They were leading 1–0 at the break in their first World Cup knockout match.
England manager Thomas Tuchel fielded attacking players in the second half, including Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka, and later brought on Eberechi Eze, increasing his team’s pressure. Captain Harry Kane finally broke Congo DR’s resistance with a goal from close range after sustained pressure in the 75th minute. The striker completed the comeback by scoring his second goal of the night in the 86th minute, sealing a 2–1 victory for England and securing their place in the round of 16, where they will face co-hosts Mexico.
DR Congo’s memorable journey in the tournament
Although their campaign ended with defeat, DR Congo performed better than expectations in the tournament. They began their Group K campaign with a 1–1 draw against Portugal, endured a close 1–0 defeat to Colombia, and secured qualification for the knockout stage with an impressive 3–1 win over Uzbekistan, capping the nation’s most memorable World Cup campaign in more than five decades. (ANI)
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