A Democratic Republic of Congo star believes it is imperative for he and his teammates to beat Bafana Bafana in their next Africa Cup of Nations tie for all the people dying in their country.
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For close to three decades, the government of the DRC has struggled to maintain a stronghold in the mineral-rich eastern region of the country.
Many armed groups, including the notorious M23 rebels, have long plagued this part of the nation as they battle for control.
Civilians continue to suffer fatalities near the city of Goma as a result.
Prior to their AFCON semi-final clash against Ivory Coast, the Leopards protested the atrocities happening in their homeland by covering their mouths and pointing to their heads while their national anthem rang throughout the Stade Olympique Alassane Outttara D'Ebimpe.
Unfortunately for the central Africans, they were undone by a Sebastien Haller second-half goal, and were eliminated at the semi-final stage, but star midfielder Charles Pickel has insisted that their third-place play-off match against South Africa will be just as significant as they look to honour those who are dying back at home.
"It's a game we need to win, every game for the national team is something special," the Cremonese midfielder told Soccer Laduma when asked about their upcoming match against their fellow defeated semi-finalists.
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"We need to go to this game and win it for the country and all the people in the east because it's more important than football. It's people and people are dying, and I hope the world now understands what's happening."
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