Chancel Mbemba, Bakambu celebrate DR Congo World Cup qualification

DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba and striker Cedric Bakambu revealed their delight after the African nation punched their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in thrilling fashion as Axel Tuanzebe’s extra-time winner downed Jamaica at Guadalajara Stadium, Guadalajara in Mexico on Wednesday.

Tuanzebe scored an extra time goal to deliver the Leopards their first FIFA World Cup qualification since 1974.

Congo DR 🆚 Jamaica

Congo DR book their ticket for the #FIFAWorldCup. pic.twitter.com/EGTleZf4As

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) April 1, 2026

The defender escaped his marker from a corner kick in additional time to steer home a shot from a few metres out, and send his country to the 2026 global finals.

DR Congo dominated the 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.

‘I can’t wait to see all Congolese people’

“We’re happy, we’re really delighted. It was a difficult match today. Right now, I don’t think we fully realise it yet [that we are qualified], but when we get back to Kinshasa, it’s going to be crazy, and I can’t wait to see all the Congolese people back home,” said Bakambu after the game as quoted by FIFA.com.

“Congratulations to everyone — to my team-mates and to all Congolese people around the world.”

On his part, Mbemba said: “We’re going to enjoy the qualification, but we’ll keep working. We know we’ll be facing top nations who play in the World Cup every four years.

History, written. ✍️
🇨🇩 Congo DR are going to the #FIFAWorldCup.@aramco pic.twitter.com/eSlMlFss0D

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) March 31, 2026

“We’ll stay humble, keep our feet on the ground, and continue to work. It won’t be easy, but we’ll give everything to make our supporters and our people proud.”

DR Congo will now join Group K

The stakes were incredibly high in this final qualifier in Zapopan, Mexico, with both nations aiming to qualify for the WC for just the second time in their respective histories.

The Leopards last appeared in the FIFA World Cup once, 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.

DR Congo will now join Group K of the global finals, which includes Colombia, Portugal and Uzbekistan. The global showpiece will take place from June 11th to July 19th, 2026, and will be jointly hosted by sixteen cities – 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.