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The current squad have managed to achieve things the Leopards of 1974 would have targeted – a first World Cup goal and point came against Portugal in their opening game, then a first victory against Uzbekistan to reach the knockout stage.<\/a><\/p>\n DR Congo still endures its struggles today, with conflict raging in the east of the country and a recent outbreak of the Ebola virus which affected preparations for the World Cup.<\/p>\n “When we were last here, our jerseys looked different, the country was known as Zaire, it was a whole different time,” supporter Tanya Maria told BBC Sport Africa in the United States.<\/p>\n “The World Cup has given people an investment into our country.<\/p>\n “And I think when people care about a country, when they care about the people that live there. That’s when change can happen.”<\/p>\n There is hope that new leadership of Fecofa, elected in May, can build on World Cup qualification and revive the domestic league.<\/p>\n Conditions are much better for the players, too.<\/p>\n “We’re very privileged to have everything that we need,” centre-back Axel Tuanzebe told the BBC just before scoring the crucial goal which booked the team’s World Cup spot via an intercontinental play-off against Jamaica in March.<\/a><\/p>\n “We’re not longing for anything and it enables us to go and perform the best we can.”<\/p>\n The squad know they are playing for a bigger cause than mere success on the football field.<\/p>\n “It’s not easy in our country,” striker Yoane Wissa said after the victory over Uzbekistan.<\/p>\n “There’s a war in East Congo. Every day, every time we wear this shirt, we think about them.<\/p>\n “Because we want peace and for them, I just say ‘thank you’. Thank you because we came from far. We came from nothing to be here.<\/p>\n “Now we write our story.”<\/p>\n For Kabala, Wednesday’s last-32 tie is “almost” bigger than the Rumble in the Jungle.<\/p>\n The Leopards could certainly land a huge blow to England’s ambitions of claiming a second World Cup title.<\/p>\n Compiled by BBC Sport Africa’s Rob Stevens from interviews by Peter Musembi, Lucy Provan, Ian Williams, Alassane Dia and Celestine Karoney.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n