World football governing body FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF) have sent congratulatory messages to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) for qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
DR Congo are the latest team to book their spot at this year’s competition, after their 1-0 win against Jamaica, following extra time, in their intercontinental playoff final in Mexico in the early hours of Wednesday.
Former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe scored the only goal in the first half of extra time to settle the tie after a tense affair in normal time.
The former England under-21 international bundled the ball over the line from a corner in the 100th minute, but had to wait for more than a minute while it was checked for a possible handball before being confirmed as a goal.
Also Read: Why Italy Are Struggling To Qualify For World Cup —Oliseh
The Congolese will now head to their second World Cup after featuring at the 1974 edition in the former West Germany.
Commenting after the win against Jamaica, FIFA and CAF took to their X handle to salute the two-time Africa Cup of Nations champions.
CAF wrote:”52 years later. The return was worth the run. Already proud, DRC. 🇨🇩🩵.”
According to FIFA:”Dreams unlocked. 🔓🇨🇩 Congo DR are going to the #FIFAWorldCup.”
To reach the intercontinental play-off, DR Congo defeated Nigeria’s Super Eagles 4-3 on penalties after regulation time ended 1-1, in the African play-off in November, in Morocco in 2025.
Following DR Congo’s qualification, Africa will now be represented by 10 teams. The other teams who had already booked their tickets are Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Ghana, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Cape Verde and South Africa.
By James Agberebi
7 Comments
Best time to go to the world cup with average age of 27 years. Tuanzebe who would not have made English bench is going to the world cup. Congratulations DRC as I’m watching all your world cup games. You are hard to beat.
As e dey sweet you, I no sure e dey even pain Nigeria because Gusau gathered a gang of cluelessness to endorse him for a second term at the last NFF congress.
Who gives a pass mark to an association that has a head who was in 2 boards that never let Nigeria reach world cup twice?
Only daft fa chairmen because state governments are wicked in putting dunces as fa chairmen due to political patronage.
The cycle of demerit wants to be extended after NSC chairman, after deluding and deceiving tinubu (another …) on the rigmarole progress report on the DRC petition (our NFF officials are taking us for a ride sha), wants to replace Gusau in September because “the north” should have their 2 terms.
The current football malaise never pain us well enough even when we don’t have one cadet team.
I think at this stage the NFF should stop the petition with CAS becos even if the verdict is upturned, Africa will be the big losser, as they will award qualification to Jamaica. So i rather have Congo DR go to the world cup than Jamaica. truth to be said, our impact will be limited, we need to reflect and learn our lessons and build for the future
A very interesting game between both teams by every standard. End-to-end stuff for neutrals like us.
And when I recall it took just 20 minutes for this DRC team to imprison the SE and its coach in the CAF playoffs, rendering them running aimlessly like headless chickens and defending for dear life for 100 minutes of football like a relegation-haunted team, I became more respectful of both Jamaica and the DRC itself.
3 Lessons learnt for me:
1. Nothing beats having a competent, tactically fluid, and technically sound coach. Always do all you can to get one. It will pay off when it matters most.
2. Every talent carrying your DNA anywhere in the world is valuable to your progress…….search for them, find them, scout them, and use them. Imagine if DRC had insisted, “There are MANY talents in our local league”. No wonder it took 52 years.
3. Organization on the pitch begins with organization in the office. You have not right to demand results when you cannot produce results.
Congratulations Dr Congo though I supported Jamaica in all honesty but fair play to yous!
Meanwhile Egypt drew with Spain,an astonishing result.We didn’t see that coming though.Ivory Coast are beating top teams with high margins!Morocco are posting good results!African teams will get to the later stages of this world cup.I predict 3 African teams for quarter finals..At least 6 will make it out of their group.
I feel so bad our dear Super Eagles won’t be on the world stage.Lookman,Osimhen,Ndidi,Bassey,Aina,Nwabali,Iwobi,Chukwueze,Otele,Fernandez all these quality players will be watching at home when they should be out their competing with the rest of the world what a shame!
No thanks to a dysfunctional,abysmal,stagnant football association the NFF that has failed to meet its obligations to develop,regulate,and promote the sport!
However African football has reached the level to compete favourably against the best there’s in world football.The likes of Morocco has improved football development.Infrastructure’s now at par when compared to western countries.
Standard of African players,technical staff,and competitive mentality,allowing them to compete equally on the pitch.Africa and Asian countries have worked there ways to the top of reckoning in global football and this will be the most competitive world cup ever!It won’t be business as usual for the top teams.
I believe the 2030 world cup will have a different finalist I see a team from Africa or Asian countries getting that far perhaps nicking it!
Congratulations to DR Congo. If not because of the shameless NFF that didn’t know what to do when another opportunity came Nigeria’s way against DR CONGO for using ineligible players but NFF failed to pay the application fee and also late submission of the application.
Now they are still going to CAS abi?
What are the current NFF still doing with our sports? They should be sacked. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Wow, lovely scenes!
I have to say it’s satisfying to see seriousness, hunger and desire so handsomely rewarded.
Well done, DRC.
Enjoy the world cup. You deserve it!
Abedi paid for players to fly on chartered flight just to qualify for the world cup. Our Super Chickens were fighting for bonus instead of training before the play offs.
The game against Gabon that should have ended in 90 mins if they had not missed training tarried for 120 and they were tired against DRC.
A bunch of averagely talented players who felt playing against Benin, Zim, SA and Lesotho will be a walkover like the SE of the 90’s who had players in Ajax, Juventus, Arsenal, Monaco, Inter Milan, Auxerre. These ones are playing in lower leagues or mid table teams and we’re feeling on top of the world. Meanwhile they are averagely average Chickens