Desabre had just finished taking questions from the media after Congo’s agonizing 2-1 loss to England in the round of 16 on Wednesday.
The team’s spokesman then closed the session by saying in French “the coach has lost his father. Sincere condolences.”
Desabre looked to his right with an expression of surprise at press officer Jerry Kalemo Ngoy, but quickly recovered his composure and said “merci,” French for “thank you.”
Kalemo Ngoy said Thursday the passing of Desabre’s father had been known to him before the game.
The 49-year-old Desabre has coached Congo for four years and led the team to its first World Cup appearance since 1974.
France coach Didier Deschamps briefly left the World Cup last week and returned home to attend the funeral of his mother.
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
Congo head coach Sebastien Desabre reacts during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between England and Congo in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Congo head coach Sebastien Desabre sits on the bench prior to during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between England and Congo in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
CAIRO (AP) — More than 300 children have been killed in the last six months in the war in Sudan, mostly from drone strikes, the U.N. children's agency said Monday.
Sudan has been mired in a war between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023.
The war is now concentrated in the Kordofan, Darfur and Blue Niles states, with drone warfare causing 60% of casualties, according to UNICEF.
The U.N., U.S, U.K. and others have expressed alarm about potential atrocities as the RSF and the military fight for control of the strategic city of el-Obeid, in North Kordofan.
The conflict has killed at least 59,000 people, displaced some 13 million and pushed many parts of Sudan into famine. More than 30 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.
Drone strikes and shelling have targeted civilian infrastructure including schools, markets, fuel and water stations putting over 500,000 people at risk. Civilians have faced almost siege-like conditions for over a year.
“Children are being caught in a relentless cycle of violence, displacement and deprivation,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative for Sudan.
The U.N. called on parties “to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, allow and facilitate safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access, and take all possible measures to protect children from harm.”
FILE - A woman and a child, displaced from North Darfur's capital, el-Fasher or other conflict-affected areas walk in the newly established El-Afadh camp in Al Dabbah, in Sudan's Northern State, Sudan, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali, File)
