Amidst dire conditions, a moment of respite from Ebola: "We're also a bit worried"

Yoane Wissa scored his country's first-ever World Cup goal against Portugal, securing a stunning 1-1 draw against a star-studded Portuguese side featuring Cristiano Ronaldo.

DR Congo's French coach, Sébastien Desabre, expressed immense pride in his players and their positive representation of the nation. His team arrived from Paris after an extended isolation period, as US authorities mandated a compulsory 21-day quarantine before entering the championship in the United States.

"We adapted to the situation. We worked exceptionally well. We played two tough warm-up matches and successfully navigated the first step of the World Cup. I couldn't be prouder of my players," Desabre stated.

This sentiment resonated deeply in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province in the country's northeast, which is the most affected by the 17th Ebola hemorrhagic fever epidemic. Official statistics report 837 infections and 196 deaths across DR Congo and Uganda, with 215 confirmed cases in Bunia, despite limited testing capacity. However, televised World Cup broadcasts on the few available screens offered residents a much-needed respite:

Wissa's goal in first-half stoppage time sparked genuine moments of joy, with young people celebrating in the streets, smiles on their faces. The sounds of celebration mingled with the roar of motorbikes. Despite regulations limiting gatherings to 50 people, bars were packed.

"We all want to support our footballers, but I'm also a little concerned about the lack of social distancing. When I get home, I'll thoroughly disinfect myself," declared Antoinette Makasi in one of Bunia's bars.

The joyous atmosphere was juxtaposed with severe problems in the Ituri region, which faces instability and serious conflicts involving armed groups linked to the Islamic State. Heritier Kimbimbi, dressed in national colors, said that the footballing ambassadors in the US bring much-needed joy to the people of their beleaguered country, helping them momentarily forget the loss of loved ones.

However, not everyone was fortunate enough to watch the match. Around a hundred young fans gathered around a large public screen in the square, which unfortunately remained out of order. Heritier Dubo expressed frustration that while advertisements promoting Ebola prevention were broadcast, the big screen was switched off during the match against Portugal.

"I'm angry. Many people don't have televisions at home, and matches are often affected by electricity problems. We should push local authorities harder to resolve this," commented Claude Maniwa, a local taxi driver.

DR Congo's (then Zaire's) only previous World Cup appearance in 1974 ended with zero points and 14 goals conceded, most notably a 0-9 defeat to Yugoslavia. The current generation, featuring Premier League players like Aaron Wan-Bissaka and goal-scorer Yoane Wissa, has already surpassed that initial benchmark.