😢Congo coach learned of his father’s death at a press conference | OneFootball

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s historic participation in the 2026 World Cup ended with a painful off-field twist. After a respectable 2-1 defeat to England, the “Leopards” head coach, Sébastien Desabre, received the tragic news of his father’s death during the post-match press conference.

An unexpected announcement before the media

The French manager’s expression shifted from neutral to utter shock when the Congolese press officer interrupted the session to publicly convey the delegation’s condolences. Deeply affected and visibly upset by the way the news was handled, Desabre immediately left the room.

A chapter that made history

Despite the tragic ending, Desabre secured an unforgettable milestone by leading the country to its first World Cup since 1974. Under his guidance, the Congolese national team recorded its first goals, its first win, and a historic place in the knockout stage in 2026.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 ODD ANDERSEN - AFP or licensors