Congo DR 1-0 Jamaica (aet)
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Guadalajara Stadium, Guadalajara
Congo DR goal: Axel Tuanzebe (100)
Axel Tuanzebe will long live in Congo DR football lore after his extra-time goal against Jamaica delivered the Leopards their first FIFA World Cup™ qualification since 1974.
The defender escaped his marker on a corner kick in the additional frame and steered home a shot from a few metres out to send his country to the 2026 global finals.
Jamaica’s Andre Blake has been considered one of the best goalkeepers in the Concacaf region for the last decade and he displayed his pedigree throughout with composed saves against a Congo DR attack that had the Reggae Boyz on their heels for most of the day.
Blake was fortunate to not concede midway through the first half when a sizzling Meschack Elia right-footed effort struck the post and was eventually cleared. Jamaica were not without opportunities, however, with a Kasey Palmer shot being deflected out for a corner kick and Leon Bailey firing just wide from distance.
After another Blake parry of a Cedric Bakambu curler, Jamaica started to gain a foothold in the second stanza and had a diving header from Bailey flash wide. Congo DR wrestled back control with their substitutions and pegged back the islanders in the final quarter-hour, pinging shots goalward, but nothing that bested Blake.
Blake and the Jamaican defence could only hold out for so long, and Tuanzebe made them pay for the slightest of lapses, setting off a Congolese celebration that will last until June.
Congo DR will now join Group K of the global finals, which includes Colombia, Portugal and Uzbekistan.
Quotes
“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. Congratulations to everyone — to my team-mates and to all Congolese people around the world.”
Cedric Bakambu, Congo DR striker
“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. 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.”
Chancel Mbemba, Congo DR captain
“It’s very frustrating to lose like that, very frustrating. I want to learn from it, but it’s very frustrating. It’s tournament football — we’re just lacking a goal, that’s all. Right now, it’s difficult to take any positives from this experience, but once the emotions settle, we’ll be able to look back at it.”
Ephron Mason-Clark, Jamaica striker
