DRC: Tshisekedi decorates the Leopards after their return to the 2026 World Cup

On September 22, 2026, in Kinshasa, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, decorated the players and technical staff of the senior Leopards A team. In total, 31 footballers and 8 members of the coaching staff, including the Minister of Sports, were elevated to the rank of Knight in the National Order of the Leopard.

This distinction recognizes the Congolese national team's performance at the 2026 World Cup, but above all, its return to the world's biggest football stage after a 52-year absence. The DRC last participated in the World Cup in 1974.

During the ceremony, Félix Tshisekedi emphasized the historical significance of this qualification, believing that the Leopards have succeeded in bringing together several generations of Congolese around a shared national pride.
The Head of State also highlighted the unifying dimension of this performance, which sparked strong popular mobilization across the country, particularly in the East of the DRC, a region facing violence and population displacement for several years.

For Félix Tshisekedi, the Leopards' experience also represents a lesson in cohesion. According to him, players from different backgrounds were able to put their talents at the service of a common goal, transforming their diversity into a collective strength.

On behalf of his teammates, striker Yoane Wissa expressed his gratitude to the President of the Republic and the government for the support and preparation conditions granted to the team.

This ceremony thus marks the official recognition of a sporting journey presented by the Congolese authorities as a moment of pride and national unity.

Djamila Kambou