52 years of heartbreak was finally lifted when DR Congo defeated Jamaica 1-0 in their intercontinental playoff final to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. They had played in the finals in 1974 as Zaire. Their story of retribution, of hard work and will, speaks volumes about a team that showed incredible fight during the qualifying stages. DR Congo’s qualification means that there will be 10 teams from Africa lining up at the 2026 edition of football’s showpiece event.

Former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe scored in extra time to down Jamaica and help his country qualify for the biggest stage of them all. Nicknamed the Leopards, Congo have had to wait a very long time to grace the World Cup theatre. The arrival of French coach Sebastian Desabre in August 2022 changed everything, he has sculpted a smart, robust side, reinforced by players who are eligible to represent Congo through their ancestry. 

The new additions have slotted in alongside experienced players such as captain Chancel Mbemba, winger Meschak Elia, and Cedric Bakambu. 

Best Player – Cedric Bakambu (Striker, Real Betis)

Cedric Bakambu is not just the talisman of the team, he is also the second-highest goalscorer for his country (21), behind only Dieumerci Mbokani. Bakambu was born in France, he played for the U19 French team before switching allegiance to Congo in 2015. Since then, he has made 67 appearances for the national team. Bakambu plays his club football for Real Betis and will be a key figure for Congo in the summer. 

DR Congo at the World Cup

The Leopards last qualified for the World Cup in 1974 when Congo was called Zaire; they were the first sub-Saharan African team to reach the World Cup, but lost all three of their games in West Germany, conceding 14 goals and scoring none. During their third match against Brazil, a shocking incident took place as the Selecao were awarded a free-kick, but before Rivellino could take it, Zaire defender Mwepu Ilunga kicked the ball away, and the referee awarded him a yellow card. 

• First World Cup: West Germany (1974)
• Last World Cup: West Germany, 1974 (group stage)
• World Cup appearances: 2 (1974, 2026)
• Current run of successive qualifications: One
• As World Cup hosts: Never hosted

Head Coach 

Sébastien Desabre has been in charge since 2022. The French coach, previously managed clubs like Wydad AC and the Uganda national team, is credited with transforming the “Leopards” into a disciplined side through tactical organisation and the recruitment of dual-nationals. In 46 matches since taking charge, he has led Congo to 27 wins, 9 draws and 10 defeats. They’ve scored 73 goals during this time and conceded only 39. 

Players to Follow

Chancel Mbemba (Centre-back, LOSC Lille)

DR Congo’s captain talisman, Chancel Mbemba, plays his club football for LOSC Lille. He has played for Porto and Marseille before, and has over 107 appearances for the Leopards. 

Axel Tuanzebe (Defender, Burnley)

Having graduated through the famed Manchester United academy, Tuanzebe is currently playing for Burnley after spells at Aston Villa and Stoke City. He played for England U-21 before switching to Congo and has picked up 11 caps, scoring one goal that sent them to the World Cup. 

Samuel Moutoussamy (Defensive midfielder, Atromitos)

Another French-born player, Samuel Moutoussamy, played for Nantes and Lyon’s B teams before representing Sivasspor and his current side, Atromitos. The midfielder has over 55 caps for the national team. 

Yoane Wissa (Winger, Newcastle United)

After playing his youth football in Ligue 1, Wissa was signed for Brentford, and he impressed there for four years before Newcastle came calling. The versatile forward forged a lethal partnership with Bryan Mbuemo and has made over 36 appearances for DR Congo with 8 goals to his name. 

Qualification Path to World Cup 2026

Placed in group K, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan, DR Congo reached the FIFA World Cup after a trial by fire. They first survived Africa’s playoff final against Nigeria, winning on penalties after a 1-1 draw, before overcoming Jamaica in the intercontinental playoff final. They finished second behind Senegal in their CAF qualifying group B, before ousting Nigeria and Jamaica to book their tickets for the biggest World Cup in history. 

Team Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths: Under Desabre, Congo have been playing a highly disciplined brand of football with solid defensive structure and a strong counter-attack approach. With players that represented other teams at under-age levels, the likes of Chancel Mbemba, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Yoane Wissa, Congo use quick transitions to hurt teams on the break. 

Weaknesses: Overcoming the ghosts of the 1974 World Cup will be a key factor as fans will expect the team to do better than their previous World Cup adventure. DR Congo have qualified for the biggest stage after 52 years, so they will be up against the best team. How their style of football fares against Cristiano’s Portugal and South American heavyweights Columbia will be a key tactical battle. 

Facts / Trivia

• DR Congo (then called Zaire) lost 9-0 to Yugoslavia at the 1974 World Cup, the joint-biggest defeat in the tournament’s history.
• DR Congo have been ranked as high as 28th in the FIFA Rankings and have won the Africa Cup of Nations twice. 
• They are also one of the most successful teams in the African Nations Championship, with two titles, second only to Morocco with three. 

Conclusion

DR Congo will be looking to show the world that they have moved on from the ghosts of 1974. With players like Bakambu and Wissa, they have enough firepower to give Colombia a tough fight and qualify for the knockout stages. A lot will depend on their performances against Portugal and Colombia, which will decide how far Sébastien Desabre’s team can go in this tournament.