DR Congo communications officer tells press coach Desabre’s father died minutes after England defeat
The media officer of the DR Congo national team publicly broke the news of Sébastien Desabre’s bereavement at a post-match conference, stunning the Frenchman and flooding social media with reactions.
Match drama
DR Congo took a shock lead against England in their round-of-16 tie at the 2026 World Cup, with Cipenga scoring in the seventh minute. The African side protected the advantage until the final quarter of an hour, but Harry Kane struck twice – in the 75th and 86th minutes – to flip the scoreline and send England through with a 2-1 victory.
- Cipenga scores for DR Congo in the 7th minute
- Harry Kane equalises in the 75th minute
- Kane scores again in the 86th minute, England win 2-1
- DR Congo communications officer announces Sébastien Desabre’s father has died during the press conference
The announcement
After the final whistle, Desabre faced the media and shared his disappointment before the DR Congo communications officer intervened. Closing the session, he told the room:
Desabre appeared visibly stunned, replied “Thank you,” and then left the press room. Video of the exchange spread rapidly online.We announce that the coach has lost his father, sincere condolences.
Confusion over timing
Whether the 49-year-old had already been informed before the press conference remains unclear. Le Parisien cited Congolese journalist Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala and Sports Minister Didier Budimbu, who stated that Desabre learned of his father’s death “just before the match” but chose to remain on the bench. Focus, quoting Bild, claimed the coach was told after the game, while other reports suggested his shocked reaction stemmed from the news being broadcast publicly rather than from learning it for the first time.
Social media reaction
Footage of Desabre’s bewildered expression drew widespread attention, with many users questioning the federation’s handling of a deeply personal moment. Some comments described the approach as amateurish, while others simply expressed sympathy for a coach enduring both a World Cup exit and a family tragedy in the same few hours.
