The African continent will have ten nations competing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup following DR Congo’s qualification.

DR Congo made it after beating Jamaica 1-0 in the Play-Off tournament final match on Tuesday at the Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, Mexico.

Axel Tuanzebe will long live in DR Congo football lore as his extra-time goal against the Reggae Boyz delivered the Leopards their first FIFA World Cup qualification since 1974.

The defender escaped his marker on a corner kick in the additional frame and steered home a shot from a few metres out to send his country to the 2026 global finals.

DR Congo will now join Group K of the global finals, which includes Colombia, Portugal and Uzbekistan.

“We’re happy, we’re really delighted. It was a difficult match. Right now, I don’t think we fully realise it yet (that we are qualified), but when we get back to Kinshasa, it’s going to be crazy, and I can’t wait to see all the Congolese people back home,” says DR Congo striker, Cedric Bakambu.

“Congratulations to everyone — to my team-mates and to all Congolese people around the world.”

Captain Chancel Mbemba added, “We are going to enjoy the qualification, but we’ll keep working. We know we’ll be facing top nations who play in the World Cup every four years. We’ll stay humble, keep our feet on the ground, and continue to work. It won’t be easy, but we’ll give everything to make our supporters and our people proud.”

Africa’s World Cup representatives are: DR Congo, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, South Africa, and Cape Verde.