The Democratic Republic of Congo is set to play its first FIFA World Cup group stage match since 1974, against Portugal. In this exclusive Sky Sports interview, Burnley defender Tuanzebe expresses his hope that the FIFA World Cup stage will bring joy to his war-torn homeland; he also hopes that his team can replicate Saudi Arabia's upset victory over Argentina in the Qatar FIFA World Cup, and defeat Portugal.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has returned to the FIFA World Cup finals after 52 years, yet the civil war at home continues. The people of this nation, while smiling at their team's return to the FIFA World Cup after half a century, are also mired in the suffering brought by poverty, lack of medical resources, and food shortages.
Decades of conflict have displaced millions, with the situation in the eastern part of the country being particularly severe, as various armed groups continue to fight for control of the region's rich mineral resources.
No matter how far the Democratic Republic of Congo goes in this FIFA World Cup, the eyes of the world will shift from the domestic humanitarian crisis to this national team, known as the "Leopards." Every player in the team genuinely carries this heavy mission.
"I am not a politician, but I can bring joy to Congo through football," said Tuanzebe.
"For Congo, the most important thing right now is to move steadily forward, and I've been thinking about what I can do to contribute. My way is through the public influence that football brings.
This is also the core reason why I chose to represent the Democratic Republic of Congo. I believe many of the sociopolitical issues in the country stem from the continuous external exploitation of its rich mineral resources over the years.
The world should not be this way. Humanity has enough wisdom and global resources to allow everyone to live a stable and prosperous life, but reality is not as ideal.
I am just a player, and all I can do is contribute my meager efforts, hoping to drive a positive force that will push the country towards a better life and change the current situation. I always keep this responsibility in mind."
Tuanzebe is now a hero in the hearts of all Congolese people, and all his teammates are the same; they have paved a new path for this nation of 116 million people. And it was Tuanzebe who scored the winning goal in the playoff against Jamaica, making the FIFA World Cup dream of 116 million Congolese a reality.
In the two years since representing the Democratic Republic of Congo, he has witnessed firsthand the changes that successive national team victories have brought to the people.
"I remember the first time I was returning from a national team training camp, the sights and sounds I saw while traveling by car to the hotel," Tuanzebe recalled.
"Witnessing the living conditions of the local people firsthand, my heart was filled with mixed emotions. To this day, humanity possesses various advanced technologies and knowledge that could quickly alleviate such suffering; famine should not exist, and all of this is truly unbearable.
Our country, despite possessing vast natural resources, has long suffered from exploitation, and various complex issues like unfair trade are intertwined, leading to the current situation.
It is precisely for this reason that whenever I wear the national team jersey, I give my all. After the team successfully qualified for the FIFA World Cup, we went on a parade in a car, and all the people on the streets were smiling, cheering along with the bus, and that scene deeply moved me.
That journey from the airport to the hotel was a world apart from what I saw during my first visit."
We hope to replicate Saudi Arabia's miracle of upsetting Argentina and defeat Portugal.
The FIFA World Cup stage is the ultimate stage for the "Leopards" after years of hard work. As early as the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the team reached the semifinals and has been steadily improving under head coach Sébastien Desabre, striving to return to the top ranks of African football.
In this FIFA World Cup, the team is in Group K, with opponents including Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan.
The team's first group stage match will be against Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, whose squad also includes two of Tuanzebe's former Manchester United teammates – Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot. The entire Portuguese team is star-studded and boasts top-tier strength.
But the entire Democratic Republic of Congo team is in high spirits and shows no fear. Tuanzebe frankly stated that he hopes the team can replicate Saudi Arabia's stunning upset victory over Argentina in the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup.
"In my opinion, Portugal is one of the top three favorites to win this tournament," Tuanzebe said.
"If we can overturn Portugal like Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina, that would be an incredibly beautiful achievement. Of course, we will also enjoy the match to the fullest.
Our president will attend the match in person, and we hope to bring honor to our country, live up to the president's expectations, and start our FIFA World Cup journey with an impressive victory.
The entire team is very much looking forward to this showdown; we are fearless and will approach the game with a calm mind, giving our all.
The outside world will not set rigid performance targets for us, but we have a clear goal in mind: to strive with all our might to advance to the knockout stage. As for whether it can ultimately be achieved, everything is unknown.
We have a clear blueprint for success in our hearts, but ultimately, we just want all our citizens to see us giving our all on the field and finding joy. No one can say what will happen in a football match; maybe we can score a last-minute winner to defeat Portugal.
We just hope to reignite the passion for Congolese football, among all Congolese compatriots worldwide, leave behind a beautiful memory to cherish for years, and ensure the continued development of national football."
Fighting for a belief beyond the individual
In this match against Portugal, Tuanzebe will start, partnering with his former Manchester United teammate Aaron Wan-Bissaka in defense.
The choices of these two players also reflect the growth in the national team's talent pool. Both were originally eligible to play for England.
When he initially chose to represent the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tuanzebe also had concerns, and the shortcomings in domestic football infrastructure once made him hesitate.
"I had conversations with the Congolese Football Federation when I was about seventeen. At that time, being called up to the senior national team was not my primary consideration.
After multiple discussions, we both felt it wasn't the right time. Additionally, at that time, the Football Federation's facilities and hardware and software conditions did not meet professional players' standards, falling far short of our expectations.
Since then, the Football Federation has undergone significant reforms and optimizations. As my career progressed into its mid-to-late stages, I also had in-depth conversations with several Congolese players who had played for the national team.
Although it took a considerable amount of time to make this decision, Tuanzebe has always identified with his Congolese heritage in his heart, and after joining the "Leopards," he felt no sense of alienation.
The number of Congolese residents in his hometown of Rochdale is far less dense than in parts of Paris, Brussels, or London, but the family atmosphere immersed him in Congolese culture from a young age, and even though he left his homeland when young, the blood ties were never broken.
On his way to and from Manchester United's academy training sessions back then, his father would always loudly play the works of famous Congolese musicians such as Josky Kiambukuta, Werrason, Koffi Olomide, and Fally Ipupa.
The family dining table always featured Congolese specialties: plantains, fritters, chicken, and charcoal-grilled goat.
Congolese culture emphasizes unique fashion and free expression, a fact recognized worldwide. The entire Congolese team arrived in Houston dressed in custom suits with leopard patterns, instantly captivating the internet, which is a direct reflection of the country's culture.
"Whenever there's a Congolese event, the atmosphere is always vibrant, lively, and full of joy, and that passion flows in my bones," Tuanzebe said.
"This is a characteristic ingrained in our nation's identity, and we want to showcase this unique vitality to the world."
The impact of the FIFA World Cup extends far beyond wins and losses on the field. Tuanzebe hopes that the achievements of the "Leopards" in this FIFA World Cup will encourage more young players with dual nationality to consider the Democratic Republic of Congo as their national team choice.
"I want to tell the younger generation that people are always afraid of change," Tuanzebe said.
"Young players can easily settle for the status quo and choose the easy and comfortable path. But if there's an opportunity to follow your heart and pursue a belief that transcends yourself, you should bravely seize it."
Tuanzebe has made such a choice, carrying the suffering and hopes of his entire nation to the FIFA World Cup, seeking the joy of football for his homeland.