World Cup Euphoria Replaced by Vile Threats: "You'll Never See Your Families Again!"

At the time, the African nation was ruled by dictator Mobutu Sese Seko. When the team qualified, he received the national squad at his residence. As reported by The Athletic, he promised the players houses, cars, and a $20,000 bonus for each.

However, during the tournament in West Germany, euphoria quickly turned into disappointment, and the footballers endured a nightmare. First, they lost 0-2 to Scotland, then the team, managed by Yugoslav coach Blagoje Vidinić, faced a do-or-die match against Yugoslavia.

Before the second group stage match, government representatives organized an unusual press conference, claiming that Vidinić had been influenced by officials from his home country. “We have reason to believe that Yugoslav authorities persuaded our coach to reveal our game plan. We have placed him in isolation and will make certain changes,” Zairean officials declared.

The coach ultimately led the team from the dugout. However, in the 18th minute, with the score at 0-3, he substituted the goalkeeper despite him not having made any mistakes. When it was 0-4, a frustrated defender, Mwepu Ilunga, kicked referee Omar Delgado in the backside. The referee, however, didn't see who did it and showed a red card to forward Ndaye Mulamba.

The team eventually lost 0-9, which was, at the time, the biggest defeat in World Cup history. The government reacted with immense fury.

“You have all shamed Zaire. You are scum. The Great Leader says that if you concede more than three goals in the last match against Brazil, you will never see Zaire or your families again,” an official from his country reportedly threatened, according to Ilunga's testimony.

“For about 30 minutes, they attacked us non-stop before leaving the room. No one in the room doubted that these threats were real,” the late Congolese defender said in an interview with Death Or Glory in 2009.

During the match against Brazil, with the score at 0-2, a scene unfolded that went down in history. Mwepu Ilunga did something incredible. As the opponents prepared to take a free-kick, he suddenly ran out of the wall, sprinted to the ball, and kicked it away as if it were a free-kick for his own team.

“I panicked. Everyone knew what Rivelino was capable of from that distance, and I thought if we went down 0-3, we'd be in serious trouble. I thought I could buy some time if I kicked the ball before the referee ordered Brazil to take the kick. So I kicked it,” Ilunga stated years later.

“We were truly unhappy. We had just spent two months away from our families, with no one by our side. There were no means of communication like today. And they were going to take our money? That's not how it's done. At the same time, I used it as an opportunity to provoke the referee. I wanted him to give me a red card.

I told myself: 'I'm not playing anymore.' Why should I stay on the field and risk not returning home, while others who took our money calmly watch us from the stands?” he revealed in another interview with L’Equipe five years later.

However, the referee only gave him a yellow card, and Zaire ultimately lost 0-3, meaning the players stayed within the limit set by the government.

Upon their return to the country, however, they did not receive the promised cars, houses, or money, and many fell into poverty. Some left Zaire and settled in Europe.

Yannick Kakoko started working at a Mercedes factory in Stuttgart and played in a lower league, Raymond Bwanga settled in France, midfielder Mafu Kibonge in the Netherlands, and Ilunga's children live in Great Britain. Many players from that team eventually died in obscurity.

“Many of us live like beggars. If I could live it all again, I would rather have worked hard and become a farmer,” Mwepu Ilunga, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 65, said retrospectively.