FLAGS; PRESIDENT MOBUTU; BAND AND GUARD OF HONOUR; MEDAL PRESENTATION; APPLAUSE; MOBUTU WITH TEAM.




Initials DW/VS/AE/SC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE CONGO-KINSHASA NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM, THE LEOPARDS, HAVE BEEN HONOURED BY PRESIDENT MOBUTU. EACH MEMBER OF THE TEAM, WHICH LAST MONTH WON THE AFRICAN NATIONS SOCCER CUP IN ADDIS ABABA, RECEIVED THE GOLD MEDAL OF SPORTING MERIT (LA MEDAILLE D'OR DU MERITE SPORTIF).

THE CONGO TEAM BEAT GHANA IN THE FINAL OF THE COMPETITION BY A SINGLE GOAL IN THE 66TH MINUTE AND HAD A TREMENDOUS RECEPTION WHEN THEY ARRIVED BACK HOME. ON THEIR WAY TO THE FINAL CONGO BEAT ETHIOPIA 3-2 AFTER EXTRA-TIME IN THE SEMI-FINAL, BUT THE QUALIFYING GROUP MATCH WITH GHANA WAS ABANDONED AFTER FIGHTING BETWEEN SPECTATORS AND PLAYERS.

GHANA HAD WON THE CUP THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS AND WERE NOT FAVOURITES TO DO SO AGAIN.