Sadio Mané wins praise in DR Congo after speaking Lingala before 2026 World Cup

Senegal forward Sadio Mané has attracted widespread attention in DR Congo after speaking Lingala in a viral video ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

With less than two weeks remaining before the tournament begins in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the former African Footballer of the Year drew praise from Congolese supporters after delivering a message in one of the country’s most widely spoken languages.

The video quickly circulated across social media platforms and generated strong reactions among football fans in DR Congo, where excitement continues to build ahead of the Leopards’ return to the World Cup.

The Congolese national team will take part in the tournament for the first time in 52 years, with their only previous appearance dating back to 1974.

During the recording, Mané was guided by another person off camera before addressing Congolese supporters directly in Lingala.

The Senegal international told fans “I love you very much” before ending the message with the word “fimbu”, a reference associated with the emblematic celebration of the Congolese national team.

The gesture was warmly received by many supporters and further strengthened the connection between the Senegalese forward and football fans in DR Congo.

Mané remains one of the most recognisable figures in African football and his message arrived at a moment when anticipation around the World Cup continues to grow across the continent.

At 34 years old, the Lions of Teranga star has earned 124 international caps and scored 52 goals for Senegal.

His appearance in the video came as several African nations continue preparations for the tournament scheduled to run from 11 June to 19 July.

However, preparations for both Senegal and DR Congo have faced difficulties in the build-up to the competition.

Senegal’s camp has reportedly been unsettled by uncertainty surrounding the contract situation of head coach Pape Thiaw.

The issue has created questions around stability within the national team environment despite Senegal remaining one of Africa’s strongest footballing nations heading into the tournament.

DR Congo have also encountered challenges before the World Cup, although under very different circumstances.

The Leopards have attracted attention because of the Ebola epidemic affecting the country, which has complicated aspects of their preparation programme ahead of travelling to the United States.

As part of those disruptions, the Congolese national team had to cancel a planned training camp in DR Congo.

Instead, Sébastien Desabre’s squad are currently based in Belgium, where preparations are continuing before the team travels to North America for the tournament.

The players and staff are also required to follow specific health protocols before entering the United States.

Despite those difficulties, enthusiasm surrounding DR Congo’s participation remains significant, particularly given the historic nature of their qualification.

The return of the Leopards to the World Cup after more than five decades has generated optimism among supporters eager to see the national side compete again on football’s biggest stage.

Mané’s Lingala message therefore arrived during a period of heightened emotion and expectation for Congolese football supporters.

The Senegal striker’s gesture also reflected the broader sense of solidarity often seen between African football nations ahead of major international tournaments.

As preparations continue, both Senegal and DR Congo will hope to overcome off-field challenges and focus fully on their campaigns once the World Cup begins.

For many Congolese fans, however, Mané’s brief message in Lingala has already become one of the memorable moments in the countdown to the tournament.