“I’ve got to admit, I think about it all the time. It really matters, because it could be historic.”
“It” is qualification for the FIFA World Cup 26™. And when the Real Betis marksman Cedric Bakambu shares these words with FIFA a few days ahead of the return of international football, the emotion in his voice is unmistakeable.
Congo DR have been notably absent from the FIFA World Cup™ since West Germany 1974. At that tournament, the country, which was then known as Zaire, ended up suffering three losses in as many outings. Since then, the Congolese have rarely been as close to qualification for the global showpiece as they are today.
“We’re still on track even though we lost against Senegal. Where there’s life, there’s hope,” adds the 34 -year-old forward, not shying away from the memory of that painful 3-2 home defeat against the Teranga Lions on Matchday 8 on 9 September, when he opened the scoring. “It makes no difference if we qualify for the World Cup directly or through the play‑offs. The target is still the same. It won’t be easy, but we’ll do everything in our power.”
In addition to needing to beat Togo and Sudan in the coming days, Sebastien Desabre’s men – who trail Senegal by two points – will be hoping that the Teranga Lions slip up. Although Bakambu is keeping the faith, he knows that it will be an uphill battle, having faced Sadio Mane and Co just under a month ago.
“For me, Senegal are the best team in Africa. You could sense it on the pitch. They know all about playing on the biggest stage in the world. Nobody can say that Senegal didn’t deserve to win. Hats off to them. Just ask any of the Senegalese players – coming and getting a result at the Stade des Martyrs is no mean feat.”
The Congolese stadium was buzzing all night, despite the defeat. The thought of it still gives Bakambu goosebumps. “I’ve been playing for the national team for over a decade, and I’d never seen the Stade des Martyrs like that. Being able to score two goals in front of a sell‑out home crowd was incredible. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the win for them, so I hope we can make up for it in the upcoming fixtures.”
“From a personal perspective, it had been a long time since I’d scored at the stadium. I was flooded with emotion – it was a real thrill. The feeling of scoring in front of such a packed crowd and in that kind of electric atmosphere is something I hope every player gets to experience at least once in their career. Honestly, I’ll never forget it. It was a beauty too, I have to say!”
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Having added three goals and two assists to his tally during last month’s international window, the player who was shaped at Sochaux – where he says he picked up “solid foundations, including tactical discipline and the art of positioning and movement” – has the record books in striking distance. Bakambu is now only three adrift of DR Congo’s all-time top scorer, the recently retired Dieumerci Mbokani, who plundered 22 goals for the Leopards.
“It’s not something that crosses my mind every day, but the journalists and people around me don’t let me forget it,” he admits. “I won’t lie – it’s definitely at the back of my mind. Whenever I score for my country, it genuinely feels like the first time. I’ve found the back of the net plenty of times, but it’s still hard to keep my emotions in check.
“It’s always special to score for your country but, right now, the focus is on the team and on putting together a run of wins to secure our place at the World Cup.”
The attacker – who has also plied his trade at Bursaspor, Villarreal, Beijing Guoan, Marseille, Olympiacos and Galatasaray – believes that qualification for next year’s flagship event would be a way of giving something back to his country of origin.
“You know, I really love my country and I’m very well liked by people there too,” explains the centre-forward, who grew up in the Paris suburbs and represented France at youth level. “We have a good relationship. I won’t lie to you: I’d never set foot in Congo DR before my first call-up, but my older brothers were born there, as were my parents. Football has helped me to get back to my roots. When I arrived for my first national-team camp, I was blown away. I’d seen the buzz on social media [about my selection], but that was nothing compared to what I actually experienced in Kinshasa.
“I’ve also had the opportunity to go to Kongo Central and to reconnect with the village where my ancestors came from, and it’s something really powerful. They teach you about your background and they tell you stories and local legends. I also have a foundation, and we’re contributing quite a bit to the country. That enables me to connect with people from other regions and provinces. I love that. I see myself in them and I try to do my bit by helping them, with as much humility as possible.””
Retracing his origins has given Bakambu fresh impetus. He now has the chance to bring even greater joy by fulfilling not only his own dream, but that of an entire nation. “What’s my wildest dream? Honestly, it’s playing in the World Cup with Congo DR.”
And what about bagging a goal at the World Cup for good measure? “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves now. You asked me to name one dream, not two,” he concludes with a smile.
Lead image courtesy of CAF
