DR Congo end 52-year wait with dramatic World Cup qualification victory

A moment decades in the making finally arrived as DR Congo sealed qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a dramatic extra-time victory over Jamaica.

In a tense playoff encounter that stretched into extra time, it was Axel Tuanzebe who etched his name into Congolese football history. The defender forced the ball over the line in the 101st minute following a chaotic set-piece, sparking wild celebrations as the Leopards secured a 1–0 triumph.

The breakthrough came after sustained pressure, with DR Congo pushing relentlessly for a winner. Earlier in the match, a flowing attacking move involving Cédric Bakambu and Théo Bongonda had carved open the Jamaican defense, only for the effort to be halted by an offside call that denied what looked a certain goal.

That setback, however, only added to the drama of a night that will be remembered as one of the greatest in the nation’s football history. The victory marks DR Congo’s return to the World Cup stage for the first time in 52 years, a milestone that resonates far beyond the pitch as a landmark achievement for African football.

Attention now turns to what promises to be one of the most fiercely contested groups in the tournament. Drawn into Group K, DR Congo will face formidable opposition in Portugal, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.

For a team that has waited over half a century for this moment, the challenge ahead is daunting, but the belief is unmistakable. DR Congo are back on the world stage, and they have already shown they belong.