Kinshasa, DRC — July 2, 2026 – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and Senegal, both viewed as underdogs, faced a tough fate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s Round of 32. DR Congo’s hopes were dashed with a 2-1 loss to England, while Senegal succumbed to Belgium in a 3-2 extra-time thriller.
The DR Congo’s performance was promising, as Brian Cipenga’s early goal set the stage for what seemed like a potential upset.
However, England’s Harry Kane stepped up in the second half, scoring both of his team’s goals, the first in the 75th minute and the second in the 86th minute, securing their place in the next round. Senegal’s match against Belgium was equally dramatic.
The Lions of Teranga took a commanding 2-0 lead with goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr, but Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans mounted a spirited comeback. Lukaku scored in the 86th minute, and Tielemans netted an equalizer three minutes later.
The deciding moment came in extra time, where Belgium was awarded a penalty, which they converted to win the match. Both teams’elimination serves as a testament to the competitive nature of the World Cup and the challenges faced by African nations in the tournament. DR Congo’s exit marks their first appearance since 2002, while Senegal, with their historic quarterfinal run in 2002, had hoped to build on that achievement.
Despite their early successes, both nations were unable to sustain their momentum, ultimately falling short of their goals.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Africanews
Source: Rédaction Africanews
