The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, announced valuable gifts for the Congolese national team players following their qualification for the 2026 World Cup for the first time in five decades.
Congo secured their place in the intercontinental play-offs by defeating Nigeria in the African play-offs on penalties, before overcoming Jamaica with a goal from Axel Tuanzebe in the match held in Mexico, thus returning to the World Cup after a long absence.
The Congolese players received a massive public and official welcome in the streets of Kinshasa on Sunday, amidst thousands of jubilant citizens. The players were then received at the People’s Palace by the President himself.
Tshisekedi decided to award each player on the Congolese roster a house and a four-wheel-drive vehicle as a reward for qualifying for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
At the same time, the president addressed an important message to all the players and coaching staff, urging them to shine at the World Cup and not just participate for the sake of it. He said, “You possess the talent and ability to overcome any challenge you face. Make us proud once again of our Congolese heritage.”
He added, “We want to be among the best teams in Africa by delivering a fantastic performance at the upcoming World Cup.”
He concluded, “Qualifying for the World Cup carries a powerful message of national unity. Football plays a pivotal role in uniting Congolese society.”
It is worth noting that the Democratic Republic of Congo will be in Group 11 of the 2026 World Cup, alongside Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan.
