Kinshasa, June 18th, 2026 (CPA).- The President of the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFA), Véron Mosengo, has called on the DRC Leopards to double their efforts in order to go further in the World Cup, following their 1–1 draw against Portugal on Wednesday in the opening match day of the competition, according to his X account. “After this 1–1 draw against Portugal, the Congolese players must work even harder and double their efforts to go further in this 2026 FIFA World Cup,” the statement read. According to the source, the head of Congolese football praised the Leopards for their fighting spirit and determination in defending national colors during the match against Portugal.
He stressed that every match is a step toward achieving national ambitions, noting that the team showed character, commitment and resilience. He also took the opportunity to thank President Félix Tshisekedi for his patriotic gesture in travelling to support the team and represent the DRC at NRG Stadium in Houston, United States. As a reminder, after the first match day, the DRC sits second in Group K with 1 point (+1), behind Colombia (3 points, +2), followed by Portugal (3rd with 1 point, +1) and Uzbekistan (4th with 0 points, -2).