Axel Tuanzebe’s Golden Touch Ends DR Congo’s 52-Year World Cup Wait
It came down to the faintest of touches from Axel Tuanzebe in the dying moments of stoppage time in extra time, to help the Leopards to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Scoring his first-ever goal in national team colors on Wednesday, April 1, Tuanzebe booked Africa’s 10th and final slot for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending a painful half-century of absence for the Leopards.
The journey nearly derailed before it truly began. On September 9, 2025, the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa was a scene of heartbreak and hostility. After blowing a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 against Senegal, the home crowd reached a breaking point. Riots broke out, seats were hurled onto the pitch, and the dream seemed to be dying in the rubble of their own stadium.
But while Senegal marched on to win Group B, the Leopards refused to stay down. They clawed their way into the African playoffs, stunning giants like Cameroon and Nigeria to secure a spot in the intercontinental playoffs. The stress, as fans called it, was merely the seasoning for a comeback.
The final hurdle was a resilient Jamaica side. For 90 minutes at the Estadio Akron, the tension was suffocating. Both sides traded blows in a midfield battle that saw few clear-cut chances. Jamaica dominated possession for large stretches of the second half, with the Congolese defense holding firm against a Reggae Boyz side that looked, at times, more comfortable on the ball.
As the clock ticked into extra time following a 0-0 stalemate in regulation, the weight of 50 years began to press down on the Congolese players: Sunderland’s Sidiki suffered cramps and was later substituted.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 100th minute. During the first period of extra time, DR Congo carved out a rare opening inside the area. Axel Tuanzebe, the man who chose to represent his roots over England found space and slotted home a clinical finish.
The goal changed everything. Jamaica, who had earlier advanced past New Caledonia, threw everything forward in the second period of extra time. The drama even extended to the officiating, as the Facundo Tello, the center referee suffered an injury at the 115th minute and had to be replaced by the fourth official, adding to the suspense.
Despite the late pressure and six minutes of added time in the second half of the extra period, DR Congo held their nerve.
The Leopards have officially exorcised the ghosts of 1974. From the riots in Kinshasa to the heights of the Mexican highlands, DR Congo completed their redemption arc. Africa has its 10th representative, and for the first time in five decades, the world will see the blue and red of the DRC on football’s grandest stage.
