Axel Tuanzebe Sends DR Congo To World Cup With Dramatic Extra-Time Goal 📸 Courtesy

Sebastien Desabre Praised Players And Federation: “I’m Proud of My Players And the Federation”

DR Congo has secured a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, thanks to Axel Tuanzebe’s dramatic extra-time goal against Jamaica. The match was a tense affair, with both teams creating chances but failing to score in regulation time. Jamaica’s goalkeeper, Andre Blake, put up a great fight, making several impressive saves to keep DR Congo at bay. But Tuanzebe’s 100th-minute strike from a corner kick proved to be the game-changer.

Axel Tuanzebe, a Congolese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Burnley and the DR Congo national team, was overjoyed after the match. “This is what I dreamed about as a young boy,” he said. “It’s happened for me, and I’m so very happy. I’m so proud of what I could do for my country.”

Tuanzebe, who moved to England at a young age and joined Manchester United’s academy in 2006, has come a long way in his career. He made his senior debut for Manchester United in May 2017 and went on to make 37 first-team appearances for the club.

The victory marks DR Congo’s second World Cup appearance, 52 years after their first in 1974 as Zaire. Back then, they finished bottom of their group, conceding 14 goals without scoring a single one. They lost 0-2 to Scotland, 0-9 to Yugoslavia, and 0-3 to Brazil.

“It’s a pride, first for the Congolese, because we know we’re extremely followed,” said DR Congo’s head coach, Sebastien Desabre. “The fans are still there today, very numerous, and they’re making a lot of sacrifices. I’m proud of my players, my staff, the government’s support that’s always behind us, and the federation.”

Striker Cedric Bakambu echoed Desabre’s sentiments. “We’re happy, we’re really delighted. Right now, I don’t think we fully realise it yet, but when we get back to Kinshasa, it’s going to be crazy… congratulations to my teammates and to all Congolese people around the world.”

The win was not without controversy, however, as Jamaica’s striker Ephron Mason-Clark was left frustrated. “It’s very frustrating to lose like that, 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…”

The match was also marked by a dramatic moment when Argentine referee Facundo Tello pulled up with cramp and had to be replaced by fourth official Dario Herrera. Jamaica were playing a second game in five days after beating New Caledonia 1-0 last Thursday in their semi-final tie, also in Guadalajara.

DR Congo’s journey to the World Cup has been a long time coming, and they will be looking to make a statement in Qatar 2026.