Despite a preparation phase heavily disrupted by the Ebola epidemic, the Democratic Republic of Congo is about to experience a historic moment. Having qualified for the 2026 World Cup, the Leopards will make their debut in the competition on June 17 in Houston, USA, against a formidable opponent: Portugal.

A baptism of fire that Sébastien Desabre's men will approach without having benefited from ideal conditions.

The puzzle of health restrictions

The Congolese national team's initial program was completely disrupted by internationally imposed health protocols. To comply with health recommendations and avoid future travel restrictions, the DRC had to cancel its training camp initially planned for Kinshasa.

“We preferred to forgo the trip to Kinshasa in order to respect all the recommended health measures,” explained the Congolese Minister of Sports, Didier Budimbu Ntubuanga.

Friendly matches disrupted, but visas validated

These health restrictions also had a domino effect on the schedule of preparation matches. Originally planned for Spain, the friendly match against Chile had to be urgently relocated to Orléans, France, due to concerns raised by Spanish authorities regarding the risks associated with the epidemic. The Leopards lost there (2-1) in a match played behind closed doors.

Despite these headwinds, optimism remains high on the part of the Congolese government. The Minister of Sports reassured the public regarding the administrative procedures for the trip to the United States: the entire technical staff based in Kinshasa has already obtained their visas, thus eliminating the possibility of a last-minute setback.

A major challenge in Group K

Placed in a tough group, the DRC is aware that this first match against Portugal will be a true test. However, far from admitting defeat, the Leopards intend to transform these preparation difficulties into a source of renewed spirit and motivation.

For the Congolese people, being present at this global event is already a source of immense pride; the next objective will now be to proudly represent the country against the elite of world football.

Would you like me to adopt a more journalistic tone (AFP dispatch style) or, on the contrary, one more focused on sports analysis for this rewrite?