After being in the football wilderness for over half a century, the Leopards of DR Congo finally roared as they qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in US, Canada and Mexico following a 1-0 win over Jamaica in the continental playoff in Mexico.
DR Congo formerly Zaire featured in the 1974 World Cup in Germany where they recorded arguably Africa’s poorest performance in the history of the Mundial. They were walloped 9-0 by Yugoslavia, 3-0 by Brazil and 2-0 by Scotland.
Once a powerhouse in African football winning the AFCON in 1968 and 1974, DR Congo has over the years been reduced to perennial underachievers. They had nothing to show off on the continent and the world at large for several decades in terms of football.
Seemingly, the country itself has experienced political unrest and civil wars for several years. Up till now, DR Congo is divided with the M23 rebels ruling the mineral rich Kivu region while President Felix Tshisekedi rules the other half. All this has been a bane to the progress of their football.
From the 2023 AFCON in Cote D’Ivoire where they reached the semis, the national has built on it and they are gradually getting to where they really belongs in Africa and World football as a whole.
Over the years, Congo has struggled alot in terms of losing talents to foreign countries especially France and Belgium. The likes of Claude Makalele, Steve Mandanda, Michy Bathshuayi, Romelu, Vincent Komoany, Steve Nzonzi, Christian Benteke among others. These were classical talents who could have changed the fortunes of the Simbas in the course of time.
After a careful assessment of their deteriorating football, the Congolese Football Federation ans head ciach Sebastien Desabre came up with a plan to switch more attention to the players born in the diaspora.
In just 4 years, they have been able to grab some of the talented foreign born players who could had previously represented European countries at youth stages. Yoan Wissa (France), Arthur Masuaku (France), Gael Kakuta (France), Cedric Bakambu (France), Theo Bongonda (Belgium), Axel Tuanzebe and Aaron Wabln-Bissaka (England) among others.
Now, Willy Kambwala who plays for Villarreal, Antoni Milambo of Brentford; Diane Bakwa of Nottingham are part of the likely names born abroad who could be roped into the team.
“The DRC has enormous potential. Whem i arrived we were 72nd in the world and now we are 56th.” Desabre told the Press in an interview in December 2025.
“So that shows that we have made good progress on recent years, and it’s true that we are on an upward trajectory.”
The performances of the the foreign born players hasn’t gone unnoticed. They have become the fulcrum which the simbas revolve around.
” The secret is simply the talent of the players, their commitment, and the organization around the team. When you put talented players in the right conditions, it often works. I think ee still have room for improvement.” Desabre added.
Qualification to the 2026 World Cup:
DR Congo didn’t achieve the qualification feat on a silver platter. They finished 2nd in Group B behind Senegal and they had to secure their ticket to the Mundial through 2 play offs.
Under deafening noise at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat they saw off Cameroon 1-0 through a late header from skipper Chancel Mbemba on November 13, 2025 before defeating Nigeria 4-3 on penalties in a hardly fought Africa playoff final.
In the intercontinental playoff final they pipped Jamaica 1-0 at tge Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico courtesy an Axel Tuanzebe 100th minute finish.
Congo is drawn alongside European powerhouse Portugal, unpredictable Colombia as well as debutantes Uzbekistan Group K. They will open their accounts against Portugal on June 17 at the NRG Stadium in Houston before facing Colombia at the Akron Stadium on June 23rd and wrapping up against Uzbekistan four days later at the Mercedes -Benz Stadium in Atalanta.
Can Congo write the wrongs right?
The Leopards would want to exorcise the ghost of their 1974 World Cup debacle once and for all. Congo maybe hugely underdogs in the Groul but they can cause a major upset.
Players such as Chancel Mbemba, Yoan Wissa, Cedric Bakambu, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and others are quality materials who are playing at the highest level of world football.
On any day, these Congolese players have what it takes to cause problems for every team they meet. In Coach Desabre, they have an experienced technical brain who is well versed in the Ghana.
All what Congo need is self-belief and the needed determination. They boast of a well-drilled squad which can replicate the Cameroon of 1990, Senegal of 2002, Ghana of 2010 and even the Cameroon of 2022 at football’s biggest stage.
It has been 52 years since their last appearance at the Mundial. Congo with their enterprising supporters are hungry for success and they could be Africa’s brightest spot among the 10 countries which qualified from the continent.
