DR Congo faces England next after historic World Cup comeback

DR Congo needed nothing but a win in their final group game, or go home. By the final whistle, they had their first-ever World Cup victory, a 3-1 comeback over Uzbekistan, and a knockout clash with England locked in.

Yoane Wissa, already carrying two goals into the third match day, left with two more and a performance that defined the Leopards’ night.

This was tight, tense, and shaped by moments, some ruled out, some seized, some survived. But it was DR Congo’s resilience that carried them through.

DR Congo brought chaos early

Uzbekistan came out swinging. Inside the opening minute, Eldor Shomurodov thought he’d given his side the perfect start, beating Lionel Mpasi before the offside flag cut celebrations short. It was a warning, and DR Congo didn’t heed it for long.

Ten minutes later, Shomurodov punished hesitation at the back. Mpasi was stranded, the lob was clean, and Uzbekistan had the lead it’d been chasing since kick-off. DR Congo, needing three points to progress and was suddenly staring at elimination.

The response was immediate, if not immediately rewarded. Nathan Mbuku bundled in what looked like an equaliser, only for VAR to intervene. A stray arm in the build-up caught Sherzod Nasrullaev, and the goal was chalked off. Another setback, another test of nerves.

Wissa steadies the night

DR Congo needed composure. Wissa supplied it.

When Abdukodir Khusanov clipped him in the box, the Newcastle forward stepped up, sent Abduvohid Nematov the wrong way, and dragged his side level. It was calm, clinical, and exactly what the moment demanded.

From there, the Leopards grew. They pressed with more purpose, moved the ball with more conviction, and began to tilt the match in their favour. Uzbekistan, who had spent heavily in the first half, started to fade.

Sebastien Desabre turned to his bench, and Fiston Mayele delivered. On 78 minutes, the substitute reacted quickest in a crowded box, poking DR Congo ahead for the first time. It was a scrappy finish, but a decisive one, the kind of goal that rewards persistence rather than perfection.

Uzbekistan, chasing its place in the last 32, pushed back. But the legs were gone, the spaces were opening, and DR Congo was ready to finish the job.

Wissa seals it with style

Deep into stoppage time, Wissa found the final word. Collecting the ball in space, he arrowed a low strike from distance that beat Nematov and confirmed DR Congo’s passage into the knockout rounds.

Three goals in the group stage. A double on the night. A performance that carried a nation into new territory.

DR C’s identity: Stubborn, structured, and dangerous

DR Congo, as a side, built on defensive discipline rather than spectacle. Desabre’s four-year tenure has produced a team that rarely loses by more than a single goal, a team that frustrates opponents, a team that forces mistakes rather than chases chaos. They aren’t here to entertain. They’re designed to endure and deliver.

Portugal felt it. Colombia felt it. Uzbekistan felt it most of all. How will England fare?

Wissa’s goals have added a new dimension, but the backbone remains the defence, strong, organised, compact, and unyielding.

England, who continue to wrestle with questions about creativity and attacking spark, will not find easy answers against this group.

Uzbekistan’s deserves respect

Fabio Cannavaro’s side played with intensity and ambition, especially in the first half. They pressed high, moved quickly, and created problems DR Congo struggled to solve early on.

But the energy cost them. Cannavaro admitted as much: the running, the pressing, the effort, it all drained away after the break. Small mistakes became big ones, and DR Congo capitalised.

Still, Uzbekistan leaves with credit. They competed, they threatened, and they showed they belong on this stage.

What this means for DR Congo

A first World Cup win. A place in the last 32. A meeting with England on Wednesday.

More importantly, a clear identity: defend first, strike when the moment comes, and trust Wissa to deliver when it matters.

This was a night defined by resilience. A night shaped by pressure. A night that pushed DR Congo into the global frame.

Now, the Leopards get England, a matchup that promises structure versus structure, discipline versus discipline, and a stubborn opponent England will not relish.

Featured image via Reuters