Sometimes a game doesn't win a trophy, but it gives millions of tired hearts a reason to live again.

We can be supporters of any country. Some of us may love Argentina, some Portugal, some Brazil, and some powerful nations like France, Germany, Spain or America.

But watching last night's game (Wednesday), my heart was moved not by being a supporter of a particular team, but by being a human being.

It was 90 minutes of football on the World Cup field. It may be a simple result on the scoreboard. But for millions of citizens of DR Congo, it was not just a game. It was a story of their lives, struggles and hopes.

I am currently working in DR Congo under the UN peacekeeping mission. While living here, I have not only known this country through news of war, violence and political instability. I have experienced the pain, struggle, patience and indomitable hope of the people here firsthand.

Many people in the world know DR Congo as a country rich in natural resources but plagued by problems. But I have seen another truth here, a people who can smile even in the most difficult circumstances, respect their guests and never give up hope for tomorrow.

The World Cup match against Portugal was a vivid example of that. Somewhere there was the brilliance of the World Cup, there was a state-of-the-art stadium, there were millions of spectators. But somewhere there are also such villages, where one had to struggle to even listen to the news of the game, let alone watch football live. The people here were waiting for the results of their country by relying on the sound of the radio, the weak signal of their mobile phones or the news coming from the mouths of others. For them, the game was not just entertainment. It was a symbol of their country's honor, existence and hope.

We were watching the game on the television screen. But there were also people watching the same game who had not seen peace for years. Some families had lost loved ones. Some children had grown up hearing the sound of guns. Some mothers were still praying for their children's safe future.

For a country that has been burdened by war, violence, poverty, disease and countless pain, standing on the world stage is a great thing. Playing shoulder to shoulder with the world's most powerful nations is a testament to the courage of Congolese players.

When DR Congo was struggling on the field, it was not just the struggle of 11 players. It was the struggle of millions of dreams. It was the struggle of a country's self-respect. The message it conveyed to the world was, 'We are still alive. We have not given up yet.'

After the game, people danced in the streets. They played music. They waved flags. They hugged each other and shared their happiness. Seeing that scene, all of us who came to the mission were happy. Because they were not only happy with the football result.

They were happy, after a long time they felt a golden hope. Because the world had the opportunity to know them not only from the news of war, violence and sorrow, but also from the football field.

They were happy, their children had the opportunity to hear a cheer louder than the sound of guns, even if only for a day. There was not only entertainment, there was patriotism, hope and trust. They were happy that the Congo, which the world knew in the past as a story of pain, was known today through football.

After the game, we met Jonathan Kasongo, a farmer from the Fataki area where we live. People gathered around and were celebrating, singing songs, waving flags. Some people stood silently and watched their happiness. They were teary-eyed.

I went closer and asked Mutumbo, ‘Everyone is happy today, but why do you look emotional?’ He remained silent for a moment. Then, taking a deep breath, he said, ‘Because today’s game reminded me not only of my country, but also of the story of my life.’

I asked again, ‘What story?’ His answer made me silent for a moment.’

‘When I was little, I heard gunshots in our village many times. We used to stay scared all night. Some friends are not with me today. Some families are separated. The war took a lot from us. But today, when I saw our flag on the field, when I saw our team playing against the great nations of the world, it was the first time that the world had forgotten us.’

I asked, ‘Is that why you are emotional?’ He smiled and wiped his teary eyes and said, ‘Yes.’ Today, my son asked me for the first time, ‘Dad, is our country strong too?’ I was able to proudly say, ‘Yes, our country is strong.’

Jonathan paused for a moment and added, ‘We don’t have much money. We don’t have many facilities. But we have one thing, hope. As long as there is hope, DR Congo will never lose.’

As I listened to him, I realized that yesterday, football was not just played on the field. There was a nation trying to overcome its pain.

There were millions of people who had forgotten their pain, even if only for a moment. Millions of people had a reason to tell their children stories of hope. Somewhere mothers were praying. Somewhere children were eagerly asking for the score. Somewhere fathers were able to pronounce their country's name with pride after years.

The players were running on the field, but outside the field, the hearts of millions of Congolese people were also racing along.

We Nepalis are also a people who understand the value of suffering and struggle. We have suffered the pain of earthquakes. We have seen deprivation. We have understood the pain of being exiled. That is why when we see a smile on the face of the people of a struggling nation, that smile feels like our own.

Sometimes there is something bigger than a goal, hope. There is something bigger than a game, the victory of humanity. Yesterday, the citizens of Congo may not have won the trophy. But they gave the world a priceless message: 'We may be victims, but we are not defeated.' We may be wounded, but we are not finished. We have cried, but we have not stopped dreaming. We have lost a lot, but we have not lost hope.’

Today, my respect is not only for the DR Congo team, but for every parent, child, struggling family and hopeful citizen of this country. Because when a nation overwhelmed by sorrow smiles, it is not just the happiness of one country. It is the victory of all humanity.