DR Congo return to the World Cup 52 years after a 1974 trip haunted by the threats and a vicious dictator

DR Congo have qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 52 years, returning to the tournament after their only previous appearance in 1974. That 1974 appearance, when the country competed as Zaire, was overshadowed by the brutal dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko, whose regime used the team for political propaganda and reportedly threatened players. The qualification marks a historic moment for Congolese football, ending over five decades of absence from the sport's biggest stage.