Democratic Republic of Congo: A Chance to Qualify for the 2026 World Cup

The Congolese team battled hard on Sunday, November 16, to secure victory against Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifying playoffs. DR Congo achieved a remarkable feat, defeating Nigeria in a penalty shootout.

DR Congo thus moves closer to its second World Cup appearance, following its first in 1974, when it was known as Zaire. The Leopards, coached by Sébastien Desabre, have been in excellent form, having also beaten Cameroon in their last match, thanks to a goal from Chancel Mbemba in the 90th minute.

The Democratic Republic of Congo's next task will be to prepare for a final intercontinental playoff in March 2026. Their potential opponent could be Bolivia, New Caledonia, Iraq, or the United Arab Emirates.

A victory would allow them to join the nine other African teams already qualified, including Algeria. FIFA recently expanded the number of participants in the World Cup from 32 to 46 teams, providing more opportunities for African teams to qualify.