DR Congo returns to World Cup after 52 years of waiting

After a 52-year absence, Democratic Republic of Congo has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reviving memories of the nation's only previous appearance, when the country, then known as Zaire, became the first sub-Saharan African side to reach the tournament in 1974. For a country of more than 100 million people, divided by language, region and ongoing conflict in the east, the Leopards' return has taken on a significance far beyond sport, representing a rare moment of shared national identity.

Al Jazeera's Alain Uaykani reports from Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo.

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