The Leopards Have Their Bite Back

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It was supposed to be a straightforward opener for Portugal. It was anything but.

DR Congo held Portugal to a 1–1 draw in their Group K opener at the FIFA World Cup 2026, a result that, on paper, looks modest, but tells a much bigger story for the Leopards.

The DR Congo were returning to the World Cup for the first time in 52 years, having last appeared in 1974 as Zaire. That debut was one to forget; they finished with zero points, failed to score, and conceded 14 goals across three matches. Five decades on, the story is being rewritten.

In the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, Yoane Wissa scored the first World Cup goal in DR Congo's history, a header from a corner, assisted by Arthur Masuaku. It was a moment that carried more than football weight. This is a country that vibrates to football with raw energy and a historical conviction that it belongs among the elite. Tuesday night, that conviction showed up on the pitch.

While Portugal dominated possession 80% to 20%, Congo actually generated better chances, finishing the half with the lead in expected goals. That stat line is striking. The Leopards were not here to survive. They came to compete.

The squad features several Premier League players, including Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa, former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe, and former Newcastle defender Chancel Mbemba. This is a group with experience, quality, and something to prove.

And what of Cristiano Ronaldo? This was his sixth World Cup campaign, with Portugal entering as one of the tournament's heavy favourites. But the scoresheet told a quiet story: no goal, no decisive moment. It was João Neves who opened the scoring for Portugal in the sixth minute, not the captain. For a player who has made the World Cup stage his theatre across two decades, going blank against a team returning from a 52-year absence will sting. Time, as ever, is undefeated.

The draw was a fair result. Portugal will move on with plenty still to prove. DR Congo proved plenty already.

The Leopards are back, and they are not here to make up the numbers.

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*Sources: FIFA.com, NBC News, Fox Sports, CAF Online, ESPN, New Straits Times, Olympics.com, *