Abuja: The Democratic Republic of Congo, in the early hours of Wednesday, defeated Jamaica 1-0 after extra time to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending a 52-year wait.
A 100th-minute goal by Axel Tuanzebe secured the Leopards’ passage, earning them the 47th slot at the tournament.
This victory marks DR Congo’s first World Cup since 1974, when they played as Zaire.
Tuanzebe scored in Guadalajara, Mexico, converting a corner from Brian Cipenga, which deflected past Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake.
DR Congo established control from the start, with Cedric Bakambu almost opening the scoring before being flagged offside.
After the break, Jamaica improved as the game progressed. They created chances from set-pieces but failed to breach the Congolese defence.
As the Leopards pressed forward, Bakambu saw another effort ruled out for offside.
This ongoing pressure paid off in extra time when Cipenga delivered the corner that led to Tuanzebe’s decisive goal.
Following a lengthy VAR check that confirmed the goal, celebrations erupted among DR Congo players and officials.
The match briefly paused in the second half of extra time due to an injury to the referee, adding further tension to the dramatic finish.
Fatigue set in for Jamaica, who could not find an equaliser against a disciplined DR Congo side.
The result means DR Congo will make their second World Cup appearance, having qualified for the first time in 1974.
They will face Portugal, Uzbekistan, and Colombia in Group K, starting against Portugal on June 17 in Houston.
