Tuanzebe sends DR Congo back to World Cup after 52 years

Axel Tuanzebe made his debut for DR Congo in 2024 after switching his allegiance from England [Reuters] The Democratic Republic of Congo qualified for their first World Cup in 52 years after Axel Tuanzebe's extra-time goal gave them a 1-0 win over Jamaica in their intercontinental play-off final at the Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico. In the build up, Tuanzebe told the BBC the game was the biggest of his career and the former England youth international, who was born in Bunia, a city affected by the ongoing conflict in eastern DR Congo, has now written his name into Congolese football history. While Leopards striker Cedric Bakambu twice had goals correctly ruled out for offside during normal time, it was no surprise that a tight encounter needed the extra 30 minutes to settle things.

And it was Tuanzebe who was in the right place at the right time, using his torso to almost run the ball into the goal after Brian Cipenga's in-swinging corner took a nick off the top of Jamaica defender Joel Latibeaudiere and cannoned into the onrushing Burnley man in the 100th minute. Celebrations were paused temporarily while the officials checked for a potential handball, but VAR eventually decided the ball had not brushed Tuanzebe's arm. Jamaica, who were hoping to reach their second World Cup, having played at France 1998, failed to carve out any real opportunities for an equaliser.

Instead, it is DR Congo who take their place in Group K at the expanded 48-team tournament, facing Portugal in their opening match in Houston on 17 June before ties against Colombia and Uzbekistan. 'This is bigger than football' - DR Congo bid to end 52-year World Cup wait Zaire's infamous World Cup free-kick moment Reggae Boyz dance to Leopards' tune This was the first-ever meeting between these two sides, having been drawn together in pathway one of Fifa's intercontinental play-offs, with both coming into the match off the back of morale-boosting wins. A single goal from Wrexham striker Bailey Cadamarteri was enough to help Jamaica past New Caledonia in Friday's play-off semi-final, while DR Congo warmed up with a 2-0 win in their friendly against Bermuda.

The Central Africans had advanced straight into the play-off final courtesy of their world ranking, sitting 49th with Jamaica 68th. But the Leopards had certainly worked hard to make it this far - this was their 13th qualifier in a campaign which began back in November 2023. Sebastien Desabre's team finished second behind Senegal in their group before overcoming Cameroon and Nigeria in African play-offs to set up this encounter in the heart of Mexico.