The Democratic Republic of Congo came very close to a stunning upset. Facing England in the round of 32 of the World Cup, the Leopards long believed they were on course for a historic qualification before collapsing in the final moments.
DR Congo took the lead, resisted, and made one of the tournament favorites doubt themselves… but Harry Kane eventually turned everything around. With a brace, the England striker gave the Three Lions a 2-1 victory, bringing Congo’s impressive run to an end.
A Shocking Announcement After the Match
But the post-match scenes took a sad and surprising turn. At the end of the press conference, the Congolese federation announced the death of Sébastien Desabre’s father. The French coach of DR Congo appeared stunned by the news and left the room with a closed expression.
It was a particularly strange, almost surreal moment, as the announcement came unexpectedly after a match already packed with emotion. The video of the scene shows a sequence that was difficult to understand in the moment.
🌍⚽️C’est comme que le Coach Sébastien Desabre a appris la disparition de son père ! #Mondial2026 #Desabre #RDC 🇨🇩 pic.twitter.com/P3ktvOajNo
— Jenovic Mbowa (@jenovicmbowa1) July 1, 2026
For the Leopards, this evening will therefore be remembered for a double pain: elimination after coming so close to a major upset against England, and terrible personal news for their head coach Sébastien Desabre.
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