DR Congo face Ronaldo and World Cup debut amid Ebola outbreak disruption

DR Congo will compete at the World Cup for the first time in more than 50 years this summer, but their preparations have been thrown into turmoil by an Ebola outbreak that has already claimed nearly 200 lives in the east of the country.

The Central African nation — nicknamed The Leopards — last appeared at the tournament in 1974, when they competed as Zaire and lost all three group-stage matches. None of the current squad, and not even head coach Sébastien Desabre, were alive for that campaign.

Desabre, who took charge in 2022, has been credited with rebuilding the squad with a stronger European influence and a more competitive structure. His side navigated a demanding qualification process, finishing second in their CAF group by eliminating Cameroon and Nigeria, before defeating Jamaica in the FIFA Inter-Confederation play-offs to secure their place at the finals — a result that cost former England manager Steve McClaren his job.

The Ebola outbreak, declared a “public health emergency of international concern” by the World Health Organization, forced Congo to abandon a planned pre-tournament training camp in the capital Kinshasa. The squad relocated to Belgium instead. Spanish authorities also called off a scheduled friendly between Congo and Chile that had been set for Cádiz.

Desabre has been open about his ambitions, insisting his side are not travelling to North America simply to make up the numbers. But those statements were made before the full scale of the disruption became clear.

Congo’s opening fixture in Group K presents an immediate and formidable challenge: a match against Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo. Former Newcastle United defender Chancel Mbemba is expected to be central to their defensive effort as they attempt to contain one of the tournament’s most decorated players.

The scale of Congo’s achievement — qualifying for a major tournament against a backdrop of ongoing civil conflict and a public health emergency — is not lost on those following the team. Whether Desabre’s side can translate that resilience into results on the pitch remains to be seen.