'Leopards’ WC return ignites Eswatini-based DRC Stars

MBABANE -The 52-year wait is finally over. 
For the first time since 1974, the Democratic Republic of Congo has clawed its way back onto the grandest stage of world football. After navigating a gruelling continental play-off, the ‘Leopards’ have secured their spot in North America this June, sparking wild celebrations that have jumped borders and reached the heart of the Eswatini MTN Premier League.
While the DRC squad prepares for daunting Group K clashes against Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan, the Congolese contingent in Eswatini is beaming with pride. These players, who have become household names in local football, feel every bit a part of the historic achievement.
Reagan Kagumbu, the seasoned Moneni Pirates man who has spent over five years in the Kingdom, believes this iteration of the ‘Leopards’ is built differently. Having won the league with Nsingizini Hotspurs last season, Kagumbu knows what a championship mentality looks like.
“Unlike in the past, we have a lot of professional players in the squad, who play overseas,” Kagumbu noted. “We are not shaken. The composition of the squad makes us serious contenders who can progress past the group stages.”
StrikerTshamwinga Pandemoya, currently on loan at Ezulwini United from Mbabane Swallows, is another DRC import but could not be immediately sought for comment. For these expatriates, the inclusion of elite talent like Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe and Arthur Masuaku signals a new era of Congolese dominance. This ‘potent mix’ of European experience and dual-nationality recruits has transformed the ‘Leopards’ from continental hopefuls into a genuine global threat.
DR Congo join a record-breaking cohort of 10 African nations heading to the tournament, marking a seismic shift in the footballing landscape.