The Democratic Republic of Congo have finally ended a 52-year wait for World Cup qualification after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Jamaica in their intercontinental play-off final.
It was a night of drama and resilience at Estadio AKRON, where Axel Tuanzebe emerged as the unlikely hero, scoring the decisive goal in the 100th minute of extra time to seal a historic triumph for the Leopards.
Congo will now take their place on football’s biggest stage this summer, where they are set to face Portugal, Uzbekistan, and Colombia in Group F.
The match itself was a tense and closely contested affair. Congo started brightly, with striker Cédric Bakambu leading the line with intent, but he was repeatedly denied by Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake. At the other end, Ethan Pinnock came close but saw his header comfortably handled by Congo’s Lionel Mpasi.
Chances came at both ends as the game progressed. Meschack Elia rattled the woodwork for Congo, while Leon Baileyresponded in kind with a long-range effort that struck the frame of the goal. Despite the attacking flashes, neither side could break the deadlock before halftime.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Congo pressing for a breakthrough.
Bakambu continued to threaten, while Yoane Wissa fired off target in one of the few clear openings. Congo thought they had won it late in normal time when Bakambu found the net, but the effort was ruled out for offside after Theo Bongonda was adjudged to have been involved in the buildup.
With the match heading into extra time, tension grew—but Congo’s persistence finally paid off. A dangerous in-swinging corner caused chaos in the Jamaican box, and Tuanzebe reacted quickest, poking home from close range to spark wild celebrations among players and fans alike.
Statistically, Congo’s victory was well deserved. They generated 1.45 expected goals from 19 shots, while limiting Jamaica to just 0.3 xG from six attempts. Despite enjoying more possession, the Reggae Boyz struggled to create meaningful chances and ultimately fell short of their World Cup dream.
For Congo, however, this is a moment decades in the making—a return to the global stage after more than half a century, sealed by grit, determination, and one decisive touch from an unlikely hero.
