Supporters in the Democratic Republic of Congo celebrate in downpour following successful qualification for the World Cup

The Democratic Republic of the Congo's triumphant defender, Axel Tuanzebe, scored the decisive goal in extra time, securing a 1-0 victory over Jamaica in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers final playoff match at Mexico's Akron Stadium on March 31, 2026.

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The win sparked unbridled jubilation in the capital city of Kinshasa, with delirious fans taking to the rain-soaked streets, dancing through the night in celebration of the country's first World Cup appearance in 52 years.

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As a player for Burnley in the Premier League, Tuanzebe's heroics earned him acclaim, and his team's success means they will face Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan in Group K at the World Cup finals in North America this summer.

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The Democratic Republic of the Congo's previous World Cup appearance was in 1974, when they competed as Zaire and suffered defeats at the hands of Scotland, Yugoslavia, and Brazil in West Germany.

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In the midst of Kinshasa's celebratory chaos, an ecstatic fan, Beni Ile, exclaimed, "We gave it our all, right here in the rain! We won't be working on Wednesday! It's going to be a national holiday.

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Ile continued, "We're going to celebrate and party all night long, staying out until dawn, as we've been waiting 50 years for this momentous occasion.

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The scenes of jubilation in Kinshasa, a city of 17 million people, were marked by a cacophony of banging pots, car horns, and whistles, as the final whistle in Guadalajara was greeted with unbridled enthusiasm.

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The Leopards, the team's nickname, had overcome significant obstacles to reach the playoff, eliminating African football powerhouses Nigeria and Cameroon in the process.

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On the morning of the big match, many residents of the DRC capital were already donning the sky-blue jersey of their beloved national side, and by evening, several hundred fans had gathered in a city centre square to watch the game.

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Despite the heavy rain, the conclusion of the match after 120 nervy minutes was met with an outpouring of national pride and relief, as the crowd erupted in celebration.

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This moment of triumph represented a rare instance of national unity in a country scarred by 30 years of conflict and the resurgence of the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group.

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Merou, a fan from Goma, a major city in eastern DRC that fell into M23 hands in January 2025, said, "It's truly exceptional, we are very proud of the Leopards today for this feat.

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Merou added, "This victory will unify the Congo, and we hope the whole country will benefit from it," as he stood in the pouring rain, basking in the glory of the moment.

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Another overjoyed supporter, Maclain, expressed his sentiments, saying, "We deserve a moment of happiness, away from the gunfire, and we need to come together too.