The Leopards punched their ticket to the 2026 World Cup in thrilling fashion after Axel Tuanzebe scored an extra-time winner to down Jamaica at Guadalajara Stadium, Guadalajara in Mexico on Wednesday.
Tuanzebe will leave to remember his goal for many more years to come after it delivered the Leopards their World Cup qualification since 1974. The defender escaped his marker to steer home a low shot for the winner.
‘DR Congo suffered a lot’
“When we get back to Kinshasa, it’s going to be crazy,” Bakambu told FIFA.com after the game. “I can’t wait to see all the Congolese people again. I don’t think we’ve fully realised it yet.”
The Real Batis star added: “I’ve never seen Congo at the World Cup. I’m going to enjoy every moment.”
“There are too many emotions right now; I can’t even speak,” said Ngal’ayel Mukau, while captain Chancel Mbemba said: “It’s a dream come true.”
Mbemba added: “We worked hard, we made a lot of sacrifices. We suffered a lot. We fought for qualification for all the Congolese people and for all African nations. We’re proud. Now we can say we’re going to play in the World Cup.”
Samuel Moutoussamy, who plays for Greek Super League club Atromitos, was not left behind in the celebrations.
The midfielder said: “I’ve always had that dream; I’m not going to lie to you. I’ve had that dream ever since I started playing football.
“The very day I signed with Lyon’s youth academy (in 2011), my family and I had told each other that the dream was to play in a World Cup. We did it.”
DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi said: “We’ve come a long way. We tell ourselves we didn’t fight for nothing when we see how happy everyone is.”
DR Congo last appeared in 1974
The stakes were incredibly high in this final qualifier in Zapopan, Mexico, with both nations aiming to qualify for the World Cup for just the second time in their respective histories.
DR Congo dominated early stages as Bakambu came close to netting the opener as the quarter-hour approached, being left criminally unmarked in the box to head goalwards from Nathanael Mbuku’s free-kick, only to be denied as Andre Blake comfortably gathered the ball in his chest.
The Leopards were desperate to make a comeback to the global showpiece that will take place from June 11th to July 19th and will be jointly hosted by sixteen cities - 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
The tournament will be the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by three nations, and the first to include 48 teams, an expansion from 32.
DR Congo last appeared in the FIFA World Cup in 1974, playing as Zaire, where they were the first Sub-Saharan African team to qualify. They finished last in their group after losing all three matches.
Their opener was a 2-0 defeat against Scotland, followed by a 9-0 thrashing by Yugoslavia, before they rounded off their Group 2 matches with a 3-0 defeat against Brazil.
DR Congo will now join Group K of the finals, which includes Colombia, Portugal and Uzbekistan.