World Cup 2026: DR Congo must take risks against Uzbekistan – Coach Sébastien Desabre

DR Congo head coach Sébastien Desabre has admitted his side must take risks in their final Group K match against Uzbekistan if they are to keep their hopes of reaching the Round of 32 alive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Leopards suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia on Wednesday, June 24, in a difficult encounter that further complicated their qualification chances ahead of the final round of group-stage fixtures.

Despite the disappointing result, Desabre remained realistic in his assessment of the game, acknowledging Colombia’s superiority while also stressing the importance of the experience his players are gaining at the tournament.

“The Colombian team were the better side in many areas,” Desabre said after the match.

“We’ve played against the two favourites in our group, the world number five Portugal and number 12 Colombia, and we’re gaining a lot of experience at this level.”

The French tactician highlighted the level of opposition DR Congo have faced during their World Cup campaign, insisting the tournament has provided his squad with valuable lessons against some of the strongest teams in international football.

For many players in the Congolese squad, this marks their first experience competing on football’s biggest stage, and Desabre believes the exposure will help the team continue developing for the future.

However, the coach made it clear that his side cannot afford to play cautiously in their decisive clash against Uzbekistan on June 28.

“This is our first World Cup, so we’ll have to take risks against Uzbekistan because a draw won’t be enough,” he added.

After failing to secure victory in their opening two matches, DR Congo now require a positive result to stand any realistic chance of progressing to the knockout stages.

Against Colombia, DR Congo showed determination and defensive discipline for long periods but struggled to match the South Americans’ quality in possession and attacking movement.

Colombia controlled large phases of the contest and eventually found the decisive goal to secure all three points, leaving the Leopards under pressure heading into the final group-stage encounter.

Despite the defeat, there were still encouraging signs for DR Congo, particularly in their organisation and fighting spirit against one of the tournament favourites.

Desabre has repeatedly emphasised the importance of learning from every match, and the coach believes these experiences against elite opponents will strengthen the national team moving forward.

The Leopards entered the World Cup as one of Africa’s ambitious representatives, hoping to make an impact on their return to the global stage.

Although qualification to the knockout rounds has become increasingly difficult, the team still has an opportunity to finish the group strongly and potentially create history by advancing to the Round of 32.

The upcoming clash against Uzbekistan is now being viewed as the biggest game of DR Congo’s tournament so far.

With qualification hanging in the balance, the Leopards are expected to approach the match with urgency, intensity, and attacking ambition as they attempt to keep their World Cup campaign alive.