President Félix Tshisekedi urged Congolese in the United States to stay united and vigilant against division during a meeting with supporters in Houston on Wednesday, following the Democratic Republic of Congo’s 1-1 draw with Portugal in the World Cup.

Speaking to the Congolese community in the Texas city, the head of state addressed the security situation in the eastern part of the country and condemned those he views as adversaries of the nation.

“Their accomplices have gone mad. Stay united. Do not let them deceive you or use regionalism to divide you. Refuse to betray your country. There are still sorcerers among us. We thought they were only in Rwanda, but they have infiltrated us,” he declared.

Tshisekedi also praised the performance of the Léopards, calling it a source of national pride. “The Léopards have made us proud. I asked FIFA that if we advance from the group stage, they should add more tickets for Congolese here. Do not worry. We will support our ambassador,” he affirmed.

For the president, the national team’s performance sent a message beyond the pitch. “Today, everyone who fears Cristiano Ronaldo saw how we played — a country at war like ours. Let us heed our national anthem: hold your heads high. Show the dignity of being Congolese,” he said.

The president indicated he would soon leave the United States to return to the DRC. “I am going back to Congo to handle other matters. I came only to bring luck for the first match. We are allocating resources so you can follow the team,” he stated.

Returning to the situation in the east, he expressed confidence that conditions would improve in the coming months. “I have faith that in the days ahead, all of Congo will be liberated. Our brothers and sisters are celebrating in Goma and Bukavu — we will be together. The enemies had infiltrated, and today we have learned and taken the lesson. Now we must build something greater,” he declared.

Mixing football, politics, and national identity, Tshisekedi called on Congolese to take pride in their nation and invest in all sectors of society.

“We started with the Léopards, and we will go into all other areas: football, basketball, science, education. Be proud to be Congolese. It is my mission to restore that pride to you,” he affirmed.

In a striking remark that echoed his earlier warnings, Tshisekedi said: “When we said a dog could lead us, we opened the door to enemies.”

The DRC earned its first-ever World Cup point on Wednesday in Houston with the historic draw against Portugal.