How DR Congo’s football team became a rare source of national unity

T he Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) had not been at a World Cup finals tournament for 52 years – but they are making up for lost time in North America. After a draw against Portugal, a narrow defeat by Colombia and a 3-1 victory against Uzbekistan – inspired by Yoane Wissa’s two goals – they have already made history by booking a place in the knockout phase. Now they face England. “We deserve to play England,” Wissa said when the match-up had been confirmed. “We have worked hard for this. You know, it’s not easy in our country. There is war in eastern Congo. Every time we wear this shirt, we think about them.” It was pertinent that the Newcastle striker’s first thoughts after the Uzbekistan game were not about himself. They were about home. The 29-year-old knows a thing or two about the situation there. In 2022 he spent part of his holiday in the North Kivu region. For a player of his stature, it was an unusual decision. Eastern Congo is all too often reduced to images of war, displacement, and minerals extracted from blood-soaked soil. Wissa used his platform to showcase something different: green hills, volcanic landscapes, lakes and endemic wildlife, revealing a part of the country with a beauty that rarely exists in the global imagination. He reminded people that Kivu is home to some of Africa’s most breathtaking landscapes. Yoane Wissa (centre) has scored three goals in the DRC’s progression to the last 32. …