The Democratic Republic of Congo is poised to embark on a transformative chapter in its history!

It was a night to remember for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a country that has not participated in the World Cup since its only appearance in 1974 as Zaire. After narrowly missing their chance during qualifiers, especially with a loss to Senegal (2-3) last September, the Léopards found hope in the playoffs. They overcame Cameroon in the semifinals and faced Nigeria on Sunday, aiming to write a significant chapter in their recent history.

Despite the formidable attack from Nigeria’s Super Eagles (Osimhen, Lookman, Chukwueze), the Congolese team stood firm. Supported by about a hundred fans in Rabat, they recovered from a challenging start after Onyeka scored in the 3rd minute, capitalizing on a mistake by Masuaku. A solid team effort led to Bakambu crossing for Elia, who took advantage of a defensive lapse to score in the 32nd minute, rekindling hope across the nation. Buoyed by this momentum, Sebastian Desabre’s team controlled the ball and challenged a high-caliber Nigerian squad.

Over Half a Century of Waiting for the DRC

As tension rose, the Congolese players remained optimistic. Substitutes Brian Cipenga and Fiston Mayele injected new energy into the game, while captain Chancel Mbemba, with 101 caps and a hero from the semifinals, came close to delivering a crucial goal with a header during extra time. Just before the end of 120 minutes, coach Sebastian Desabre took a major gamble that could have turned the match against the DRC. The Havre goalkeeper, Lionel Mpasi, was replaced by Timothy Fayulu, the usual backup. It was a risky move, considering the 26-year-old had only one cap to his name.

This gamble, however, propelled Fayulu into legend. The goalkeeper, on loan from Sion to FC Noah, saved attempts from Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi. Mbemba then calmly converted the decisive penalty kick. After scoring the winning goal against Cameroon, the Lille player secured the DRC’s passage to the intercontinental tournament in Guadajama (Mexico) next March. For the first time since 1974, the Democratic Republic of Congo is on the brink of the World Cup, bringing smiles to its people, many of whom face challenging daily lives.