The Democratic Republic of the Congo have qualified for their first FIFA World Cup in 52 years after Axel Tuanzebe scored a dramatic extra-time winner in a 1-0 victory over Jamaica in the intercontinental play-off final in Guadalajara.
Tuanzebe, a former England youth international born in Bunia—a city affected by ongoing conflict in eastern DR Congo—delivered the decisive moment in the 100th minute, etching his name into Congolese football history.
The tightly contested encounter saw Cédric Bakambu twice denied by offside decisions during normal time, as both sides struggled to break the deadlock. However, it was Tuanzebe who rose to the occasion in extra time, turning home a deflected corner from Brian Cipenga after it glanced off Jamaican defender Joel Latibeaudiere.
Celebrations were briefly halted as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) checked for a possible handball, but the goal was eventually allowed to stand.
Jamaica, who were hoping to return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998 FIFA World Cup, failed to mount a serious response, despite late pressure.
The Leopards, coached by Sébastien Desabre, will now feature in the expanded 48-team tournament, where they are set to face Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan in Group K.
April 1, 2026, has been declared a paid public holiday throughout the national territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to a press release from the Ministry of Employment and Labor.
DR Congo’s road to qualification has been long and demanding, spanning 13 matches since November 2023. After finishing second behind Senegal in their group, they overcame Cameroon and Nigeria in the African play-offs to reach the final stage.
In the end, Tuanzebe’s decisive strike—his first international goal—proved enough to secure a historic return to the world’s biggest football stage for the Congolese side.
