DR Congo Reach the Round of 32 Before a Late Harry Kane Double Ends the Run
DR Congo's first World Cup knockout appearance ended the way it built, on merit. The Leopards opened Group K with a 1-1 draw against Portugal, lost 0-1 to Colombia, then beat Uzbekistan 3-1 to reach the Round of 32, where England needed two late Harry Kane goals to win 2-1 after DR Congo had taken the lead.
It is the country's furthest World Cup progress since debuting as Zaire in 1974, the first sub-Saharan African nation to reach the tournament.
Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa, who recovered from injury in time to feature, was involved in three of DR Congo's five goals. Captain Chancel Mbemba anchored a defence that held firm against Portugal and England before conceding late.
Coach Sébastien Desabre's recruitment of dual-national players was central to the run, with only four of the World Cup squad developed inside Congolese domestic football, according to Pan Africa Football's team report on the tournament. The same report flags that as a risk heading forward, alongside a shallow pool of emerging talent behind the current squad.
Sunderland midfielder Noah Sadiki, 21, and playmaker Nathanaël Mbuku are named among the players Desabre is expected to build around next.
