The DR Congo national football team received a hero’s welcome in Kinshasa on Sunday after qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1974.
The team arrived in the capital late Sunday morning, but the typically short 20-kilometer trip from the airport to the city center took nearly four hours as tens of thousands of fans filled the streets to celebrate.
Supporters wearing the national colors of blue, yellow and red lined the route, waving flags, beating drums and blowing vuvuzelas as the team bus moved slowly through the crowds.
At an official reception, President Félix Tshisekedi praised the team’s achievement and announced rewards for the players, including cars and houses.
Team captain Chancel Mbemba credited supporters across the country, calling the qualification a collective achievement and thanking fans for their continued support.
Celebrations continued at the Palais du Peuple, where thousands more gathered in a festive atmosphere marked by music, chanting and horns.
For many Congolese, the team’s success represents a rare moment of national unity in a country facing ongoing political and security challenges.
Fans, including university student Kevin Nsimbi, praised both the players and the recognition from the government, citing the team’s determination and resilience.
Attention is now turning to the upcoming World Cup in the Americas. DR Congo is scheduled to face Portugal on June 17 in Houston, Colombia on June 23 in Guadalajara, and Uzbekistan on June 27 in Atlanta.
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