The Democratic Republic of the Congo secured a historic place on the 2026 FIFA World Cup after edging Jamaica 1-0 in additional time, marking their first look on the international event since 1974.
A decisive One centesimal-minute strike from Axel Tuanzebe sealed qualification for the Leopards, ending a 52-year absence from soccer’s largest stage. The group final featured within the event as Zaire in 1974.
Tuanzebe’s winner got here in Guadalajara, Mexico, as he transformed a nook delivered by Brian Cipenga, with the ball taking a deflection previous Jamaican goalkeeper Andre Blake.
DR Congo dominated early proceedings, with Cedric Bakambu twice denied by offside calls regardless of their attacking stress. Jamaica responded after the break, creating probabilities from set-pieces however struggling to interrupt down a disciplined Congolese protection.
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The breakthrough lastly arrived in additional time, with Tuanzebe’s aim confirmed after a prolonged VAR evaluation, sparking jubilant celebrations amongst gamers and officers.
Regardless of a quick disruption attributable to an harm to the referee late within the recreation, Jamaica couldn’t discover an equalizer as fatigue set in.
The victory sends DR Congo to their second-ever World Cup, the place they’ve been drawn in Group Ok alongside Portugal, Uzbekistan, and Colombia. They may kick off their marketing campaign in opposition to Portugal on June 17 in Houston, Texas.
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