London's Congolese community celebrated into the early hours after DR Congo secured a historic 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan to reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time. The win, achieved in the early hours of Sunday morning, set up a last-32 encounter with England on Wednesday night.
Historic achievement amid adversity
DR Congo's qualification is only the second time the nation has reached the World Cup, more than 50 years after competing as Zaire in 1974. The team overcame significant obstacles, including a deadly Ebola outbreak that killed over 300 people in DR Congo. The World Health Organization declared a public health emergency on May 16, forcing the squad to cancel their training camp and quarantine for three weeks in Belgium before traveling to North America.
Sam Makela, manager of The Bash restaurant in Seven Sisters, told Metro: 'I feel great. I feel over the moon. It is really historical. We are in a mood of celebration.' He and his wife Goldie Bashala celebrated until 5am, leaving only to prepare for serving customers later that day.
Divided loyalties
With close to 30,000 DR Congo-born people living in the UK, many in London's Congolese community face a dilemma ahead of Wednesday's match. Goldie Bashala explained: 'We are divided now between the two of them. England is our home.' However, she acknowledged that England 'always' has opportunities to progress, while DR Congo is trying to achieve something unprecedented.
Crowds gathered in Seven Sisters, a hub for Congolese shops and restaurants, and on West Green Road in Tottenham, where celebrations spilled into the streets. Videos on social media showed fans dancing and singing in the early hours.
Raising awareness
For many, the team's success is a chance to highlight issues in DR Congo. Goldie Bashala said: 'Honestly this is an opportunity for us as a Congolese people. The players did not have their own fans in the stadium. To win is difficult for them. Nobody is speaking about the situation in Congo. It is important for people to know what is happening.' She also noted that 'there are a lot of minerals that people take from Congo. We don't talk about what is happening.'
Travel restrictions have prevented many Congolese fans from attending the tournament. The US barred entry from non-Americans who had been in DR Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan in the previous 21 days, and Canada imposed a 90-day restriction on Congolese nationals traveling from their homeland.
Match details
England and DR Congo are scheduled to face off at 5pm UK time in Atlanta, Georgia, after England defeated Panama 2-0. Speaking at 3pm on Sunday, Goldie Bashala added: 'Everyone is still sleeping. We are in a state of shock.'
