DR Congo manager Sebastien Desabre learned of his father's passing during a post-match press conference after his team's 2-1 round of 32 defeat to England at the World Cup in Atlanta on July 1, 2026.
Shock Announcement During Press Conference
Desabre was answering questions from reporters at the Mercedes-Benz Arena when the DR Congo communications officer interrupted to deliver the tragic news. The officer stated: "Thank you. However, we are informing you that the coach has lost his father; our sincere condolences." Desabre paused briefly, replied "Merci," and then left the room. Video footage of the moment quickly went viral online.
It remains unclear whether Desabre had prior knowledge of his father's condition. His reaction suggested he was taken by surprise.
Historic World Cup Campaign
The 49-year-old French coach led DR Congo to their first World Cup appearance since 1974, when the nation was known as Zaire. Under his guidance, the team advanced from the group stage in third place, notably defeating Uzbekistan 3-1 in Atlanta. DR Congo qualified for the tournament by beating Jamaica in the intercontinental play-offs.
In the round of 32 match against England, DR Congo took the lead through Brian Cipenga's first-half strike. However, England captain Harry Kane scored twice to overturn the deficit, despite an outstanding performance from DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.
Desabre's Pride in His Team
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Desabre expressed pride in his players. He said: "We're disappointed because we believed we could do it. Perhaps we lacked a bit of experience at the end, but that's football. We learn, we continue to improve, and we move forward calmly." He added: "We fought like the Congolese people. We played good football today against one of the best teams in the world. That's what we'll remember."
Missed Opportunities
Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa hit the post, missing a chance to extend DR Congo's lead. Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe lamented the missed opportunity, stating: "Ultimately we're kicking ourselves more so because we felt we should've definitely held out the game. Probably should've finished it in the first half as well but it was unfortunate it was not meant to be for us today but we'll look on this and think how we can build for future tournaments."
