DR Congo Edge Jamaica in Extra Time to End 52-Year World Cup Drought
The Democratic Republic of Congo secured a historic return to the FIFA World Cup after defeating Jamaica 1-0 in a tense intercontinental playoff that went into extra time on Tuesday night.
In a hard-fought encounter at Akron Stadium near Guadalajara, it was Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe who emerged as the hero, scoring the decisive goal in the 100th minute. His close-range finish from an in-swinging corner finally broke the deadlock in a match played under challenging hot and humid conditions.
The victory marks a remarkable achievement for the Congolese side, known as the Leopards, who will now feature at the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when they competed as Zaire. Drawn into Group K, DR Congo will face Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan in this summer’s tournament.
The match itself was largely dominated by DR Congo, who controlled possession but struggled to penetrate a disciplined Jamaican defense throughout regulation time. Their early breakthrough attempt came just five minutes in, when Cedric Bakambu found the net, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Bakambu remained a constant threat, forcing multiple saves from Jamaica’s goalkeeper Andre Blake, including a looping header and a powerful curling effort after halftime. Meschack Elia also tested the Jamaican defense with his pace and creativity, coming close on several occasions.
Despite Congo’s attacking pressure, Jamaica held firm, with their best opportunity falling to Kasey Palmer, whose deflected effort drifted just wide. As the match progressed, Congo continued to push forward, even having a second goal disallowed late in the game due to an offside in the build-up.
With the score still goalless after 90 minutes, the match headed into extra time. The breakthrough finally arrived when Tuanzebe reacted quickest in the six-yard box, bundling the ball home from a corner to send Congo into celebration.
The win caps a dramatic qualification journey for DR Congo, who had already eliminated African heavyweights Nigeria and Cameroon in earlier rounds. Their return to football’s biggest stage signals a new chapter for the Central African nation, ending a 52-year absence and reigniting dreams on the global stage.
