Zaire played in the 1974 World Cup in West Germany literally with a gun to their heads. The surprise first black-African qualifiers had been warned by the country’s then President Mobutu Sese Seko that should they lose by four goals or more to holders Brazil in their final group match, there would be dire consequences. They only lost by three goals and the team returned home unscathed. But the enormous pressure showed with a bizarre incident. As the Brazilia1ns prepared to take a free kick 25 yards from his goal, Zaire’s defender Mwepu Ilunga burst from the defensive wall and simply hoofed the ball upfield. It landed him with a yellow card.
