DRC national football team wins first world cup ticket in 52 years

Published

3 months ago

April 1, 2026

The Democratic Republic of Congo national football team has qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 52 years.

Excited football fans danced all night as they took to the soaked streets of the capital Kinshasa and danced in the rain.

Defender Axel Tuanzebe, who plays in the Premier League for Burnley, was the hero with the only goal in a 1-0 win over Jamaica after extra time in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico on Tuesday.

The central African nation will face Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan in Group K at the finals in North America this summer.

At the 1974 finals in West Germany, the team competed as Zaire and were beaten by Scotland, Yugoslavia and Brazil.

“We gave it our all, right here in the rain!” shouted Beni Ile, a fan in Kinshasa whose shoulders were draped in a soaked DRC flag.

“We won’t be working on Wednesday! It’s going to be a national holiday. We’re going to celebrate and party all night long.

“We’ve been waiting 50 years for this. We’re staying out until dawn.”

It was a scene replicated across the city of 17 million people, where the final whistle in Guadalajara was greeted by a cacophony of banging pots, car horns and whistles.

The win completed a dramatic qualification campaign for the team nicknamed the Leopards, who eliminated African football giants Nigeria and Cameroon on their way to Tuesday’s playoff.

As early as the morning of the big match, many residents of the DRC capital were already sporting the sky-blue jersey of their beloved national side.

By evening several hundred fans had gathered in a square in the city centre in anticipation to watch the game.

Cape Verde goalkeeper goes emotional

Published

2 hours ago

June 16, 2026

News Diggers

Cape Verde goalkeeper, Josimar José Évora Dias, known as Vozinha has spoken emotionally about the personal sacrifices behind his country’s historic FIFA World Cup debut, revealing that he broke down in tears after their stunning draw against Spain because some of the people closest to him could not witness the moment.

The 40-year-old goalkeeper emerged as one of the standout performers of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after producing a series of crucial saves to help Cape Verde secure a remarkable 0-0 draw against Spain in the nation’s first-ever World Cup match.

Vozinha’s heroics captured the imagination of football fans around the world, particularly in Brazil, where commentators on broadcaster Caze TV urged viewers during halftime to help boost the veteran shot-stopper’s Instagram following to 100,000.

The response was overwhelming.

Within minutes, the goalkeeper’s follower count rose to 220,000 and continued to increase rapidly as the match progressed. By the 60th minute, the Chaves goalkeeper had attracted 350,000 followers. At the final whistle, the figure stood at 389,000 before surging by another 500,000 within five minutes.

By the time Vozinha returned to the dressing room, he had surpassed one million followers on the social media platform.

Despite the newfound fame, the Cape Verde international reflected on the emotional weight of the occasion.

“I cried after the game because I grew up with my grandparents when I was a kid, and they could not be there. They passed away a few years ago,” Vozinha said.

“My mum could not be here either for a visa issue, and the money we had to pay for it. We did not manage to do this in time.”

The experienced goalkeeper, who earned an 8.4 rating from WhoScored and made seven saves against the Spanish side, was embraced by teammates after the final whistle as Cape Verde celebrated a memorable result on the biggest stage in world football.

Vozinha, who has represented Cape Verde since 2012, earned his 89th international cap in the match against Spain.

Speaking to Caze TV after the game, the veteran goalkeeper was informed about the extraordinary growth of his social media following.

“I had almost 50,000 followers [before]. Wow…” he said in disbelief.

When told that his followers had reached around half a million, Vozinha appeared stunned. Moments later, he was shown a phone displaying more than one million followers.

“That’s crazy,” he said.

“Thank you so much. Brazilians have always been very affectionate towards us.

“We have felt this during our qualification campaign, we have felt this support and affection from Brazilians.”

Vozinha’s inspiring performance and heartfelt remarks have since resonated with football fans worldwide, turning the Cape Verde captain into one of the breakout stories of the tournament.

Sports

Protests over Black Stars midfielder’s fate

Published

20 hours ago

June 15, 2026

News Diggers

The Government of Ghana has expressed strong dissatisfaction over Canada’s decision to deny a temporary residence visa application submitted by Black Stars midfielder Thomas Teye Partey ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In a statement issued by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, the government described the decision as “high-handed and extremely unfair,” noting that Partey is a key member of Ghana’s senior national football team currently preparing for the global tournament.

According to the ministry, Canadian immigration authorities based their decision on provisions relating to inadmissibility under paragraph A36(1)(c) of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Ghana said it understands that the ruling was linked to ongoing criminal proceedings involving the footballer in the United Kingdom, despite the absence of any conviction or judicial finding of guilt.

The Ghanaian government stressed that the presumption of innocence remains a fundamental principle of justice and due process in democratic societies.

“While respecting Canada’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws, Ghana considers that reliance on unproven charges in the absence of a judicial determination raises fundamental questions of fairness and proportionality,” the statement said.

The government disclosed that it has initiated diplomatic engagements with Canadian authorities to seek a review of the decision. It revealed that on June 11, Ghana’s Foreign Ministry sent an official note of protest to Global Affairs Canada, requesting a reconsideration of the visa refusal.

According to the statement, Ghana is prepared to explore all available diplomatic, legal and administrative channels under Canadian and international law, including the possibility of seeking judicial review before the Federal Court of Canada, to ensure that all relevant legal and factual issues are fairly considered.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has also been in discussions with Canadian officials, including Canada’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Myriam Montrat, since becoming aware of the matter.

The government further highlighted Partey’s selection for the forthcoming FIFA World Cup, arguing that the case carries significant national and international sporting implications. It urged Canadian authorities to reverse their decision in line with principles of fairness and common law traditions.

“Ghana remains committed to constructive engagements with Canadian authorities and to upholding the rule of law, human rights, and the presumption of innocence,” the ministry stated.

The government also underscored the longstanding bilateral relationship between Ghana and Canada, expressing hope that ongoing diplomatic efforts would lead to an amicable and timely resolution.

Concluding its statement, Ghana appealed to the unifying spirit of football, saying the sport should continue to foster friendship among nations while promoting fairness and respect for the rules both on and off the field.

Sports

World Cup: Why Davido excites Obi

Published

23 hours ago

June 15, 2026

News Diggers

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general elections, Peter Obi, has praised Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, for using his global platform at the 2026 FIFA World Cup countdown concert to draw attention to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and the plight of abducted schoolchildren.

In a statement shared on his official X handle late Sunday, Obi described Davido’s actions as a patriotic gesture that went beyond entertainment to demand international attention for the country’s security challenges.

Davido had performed at the FIFA World Cup countdown concert wearing a customised leather jacket adorned with buttons bearing the names of pupils and teachers recently abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The back of the jacket carried the bold inscription, “BRING THEM HOME.”

Reacting to the singer’s symbolic protest, Obi said Davido deserved commendation for spotlighting the country’s security crisis on a global stage.

“Davido’s impactful gesture in drawing global attention to Nigeria’s security challenges warrants commendation. He prominently displayed the names of schoolchildren who had been held captive for an extended period, advocating for their safe return,” Obi wrote.

“By utilising his international platform, Davido effectively highlighted Nigeria’s security crisis, transcending mere entertainment.”

The former Anambra State governor argued that the level of insecurity across the country required urgent international scrutiny, especially in light of what he described as the government’s inability to effectively address the situation.

Obi also revisited his earlier comments on Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting that the country’s absence from the tournament was not due to a lack of talent but rather poor political leadership.

According to him, the presence of Nigerian artists on the global stage and Nigerians representing other countries at the tournament demonstrated the immense potential of the nation’s youth.

“Nigeria’s absence from the World Cup, as I previously stated, stems not from a lack of talent but from a conspicuous deficiency in political leadership that has failed to create an enabling environment for talent development,” Obi stated.

“This assertion is underscored by two notable occurrences during the tournament: the vibrant participation and impressive performances of Nigerian artists, and the presence of numerous Nigerians representing other nations on the field.”

He added that these developments should serve as a wake-up call for Nigeria’s leaders to create conditions that would enable young Nigerians to maximise their talents and contribute meaningfully to national development.

“These observations present a significant imperative for Nigeria’s political leaders to actively foster an environment in which the nation’s youth can fully realise their potential,” Obi said.