In a match reminiscent of navigating through congested Mexican traffic, Colombia faced a formidable challenge from the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi. The Le Havre shot-stopper put on an impressive display of saves, seemingly on track to earn his team a hard-fought point. However, Colombia finally broke through, as a deflected shot clinched a 2-0 victory, securing their advancement to the knockout stage.
Daniel Muñoz, the Crystal Palace right-back, netted the decisive goal, marking his second in consecutive games. He deftly maneuvered in from the right side while much of the DRC defense was preoccupied with a penalty appeal just outside the box. His shot deflected off Steve Kapuadi, wrong-footing Mpasi and finding the net at the near post.
“Our goalkeeper was excellent today,” said DRC coach, Sébastien Desabre. “But I’m not surprised. He has been playing well for us.”
Mpasi continued to showcase his skills, turning aside numerous attempts from Colombia, including two spectacular goals from Luis Díaz that were ruled offside by the assistant referee. A draw in their final match against Portugal would be sufficient for Colombia to finish atop the group and secure a matchup against one of the best third-place teams in Kansas City. Conversely, a loss would result in second place, leading to a clash with the runner-up from England’s group in Toronto.
“The boys played a brilliant game,” said Colombia’s coach, Néstor Lorenzo. “We should have scored more. With these teams you have to find the spaces between the lines. If not, if you play in a structured way, they pressure you and hit on the counter.”
While Colombian supporters made up the majority of the crowd, with over 90% dressed in yellow, the most notable fan from DRC was Michel Kuka Mboladinga. Resembling Patrice Lumumba, Mboladinga dons vibrant suits in national colors and remains motionless during matches, standing on a stool at the front of the stand with his right arm raised.
Having missed DRC’s opening match in Houston, where they drew against Portugal despite having his US visa seemingly approved, he arrived this time accompanied by a bodyguard clad in leopardskin, much to the delight of Colombian fans who cheered him in the parking lot.
Similar to their match against Uzbekistan, the Colombian supporters had to be patient for the breakthrough, but this time it wasn’t due to a lack of opportunities. Initially, Colombia dominated the midfield, and a goal seemed inevitable. Mpasi first thwarted attempts from Jhon Arias, and Muñoz then struck the side-netting. The keeper made an impressive full-length dive to redirect a shot from James Rodríguez, parried away a long-range attempt from Johan Mojica, and blocked another effort from Díaz—all within the first 20 minutes.
However, the hydration break disrupted Colombia’s momentum. Desabre, resembling a morally ambiguous Scottish solicitor from a late-night ITV drama, has guided DRC to their first World Cup in 52 years through strategic adjustments. He tightened the midfield, making it increasingly difficult for Colombia to find a way through.
Five minutes into the second half, Mpasi displayed his prowess once again, denying a shot from Díaz with his left foot before Arias missed the rebound. The frustration of the former Wolves midfielder was evident as he crashed to the ground, head in hands, reflecting Colombia’s mounting exasperation. Low blocks, as previously faced by England and Croatia, proved challenging to breach, yet Colombia’s creativity would eventually prevail.
DRC’s defensive unit held firm for the majority of the match, supported by a midfield trio with Yoane Wissa linking to a lone striker. Sunderland’s Noah Sadiki was introduced at halftime, replacing Ngal’ayel Mukau on the right side of the midfield, ensuring DRC maintained their energy. Their first shot of the game came from Edo Kayembe, who narrowly missed in the opening minute, but soon they adopted a defensive stance.
Almost successfully, they held out against Colombia’s offensive onslaught. However, the inherent risk of a defensive strategy is the potential for misfortune, and that moment arrived. While Kinshasa, DRC’s capital, is famed for Muhammad Ali’s rope-a-dope triumph over George Foreman, this DRC squad struggled to counterattack against a weary opponent. Even so, Nathanaël Mbuku managed to draw a late save from Camilo Vargas with a long-range effort. Their resilience was commendable, and a victory over Uzbekistan in their final match could still pave the way for advancement.
“We have played the two favourites in the group, ranked fifth and 13th [at the start of the tournament],” noted Desabre. “This is lots of experience we’ve been faced with. We will have to take risks. Our approach will have to be different. A draw will not be enough.”
Ultimately, this match underscored how Colombian perseverance triumphed over DRC’s valiant resistance.
- World Cup 2026
- Colombia
- Democratic Republic of the Congo football team
- World Cup
- match reports
