The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) secured a historic result on Wednesday after holding Portugal to a 1-1 draw in their Group K World Cup opener, earning their first-ever point at the tournament.
The result marked a significant moment for the African side, who are appearing at the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when the country competed under the name Zaire.
Portugal made a strong start to the match, with João Neves heading home in the sixth minute after a well-placed cross from Pedro Neto to give the European side an early lead.
However, despite dominating possession, Portugal struggled to convert their control into clear chances and were punished just before half-time.
Yoane Wissa rose unmarked to head past goalkeeper Diogo Costa, sending DR Congo fans into celebration as the Newcastle forward scored his nation’s first-ever World Cup goal.
The equaliser energised the Congolese side, who matched Portugal in intensity and created several dangerous moments of their own. Veteran striker Cédric Bakambu came close, striking the post after shrugging off pressure from Bruno Fernandes.
Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41, endured a subdued outing in what is his record-equalling sixth World Cup appearance. The Portugal captain struggled to influence the game and missed two key chances in the second half, both set up by Francisco Conceição.
Ronaldo’s performance came amid comparisons to Lionel Messi, who had earlier scored a hat-trick for Argentina in their opening match against Algeria.
Portugal thought they had regained control when João Cancelo found the net with an overhead kick, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Tensions grew late in the match as Portugal pushed for a winner, with Conceição visibly frustrated after a late corner appeal was denied.
The draw was especially emotional for Portugal, whose players wore wristbands in tribute to former teammate Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash last year. The wristbands were reportedly given to the squad by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.
For DR Congo, the result was celebrated as a landmark achievement, particularly given disruptions to their preparations due to an Ebola outbreak back home.
The point leaves Group K finely balanced, with DR Congo earning widespread praise for a disciplined and resilient performance against one of the tournament favourites.
