Democratic Republic of the Congo manager Sebastien Desabre has encouraged his team to stay optimistic and believe in their chances of advancing to the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage, despite a narrow 1-0 loss to Colombia in Group K. The African nation, appearing in the World Cup for the first time since 1974, currently holds the third spot in the group with one point from two games. To keep their hopes alive for the round of 32, DR Congo must secure a victory against Uzbekistan in their final group match in Atlanta on Saturday.
Desabre, addressing the defeat at Guadalajara Stadium, acknowledged the disappointment of the result but emphasized the importance of not dwelling on it. He stated, “We need to accept the loss, keep our heads high, and swiftly return to the battle.” Colombia claimed all three points with a late goal from Daniel Munoz, breaking DR Congo’s resilient defense after a disciplined performance by the African side throughout most of the match.
Recognizing Colombia’s superiority on the night, Desabre admitted, “It would have been nice to secure a draw, but we must admit that Colombia was the better team.” He praised Colombia’s possession game and reflected on the need for his team to analyze the match and progress forward. Despite the defeat, the French coach remains positive about his team’s development in the tournament. DR Congo earned their first-ever World Cup point with a 1-1 draw against Portugal in the opening game, marking the nation’s inaugural goal at the global event.
Desabre expressed satisfaction with scoring their first goal and sees the experience as a valuable learning opportunity. Looking ahead to the upcoming match against Uzbekistan, he acknowledged the challenge posed by their strong defense but affirmed their commitment to giving their best effort. He concluded, “Now we must rest and recharge our energy for the next game.”
