DR Congo's World Cup dream: 52 years of heartbreak, 120 minutes of suffering and a weight lifted

Guadalajara, Mexico — When the final whistle sounded at Estadio Akron, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s players scattered in every direction, propelled by 52 years of yearning. Cedric Bakambu dropped to his knees in the centre circle, Samuel Moutoussamy pressed his face into the grass, and Ngal’ayel Mukau ricocheted from teammate to teammate like a pinball. Some sprinted to the corner flag, others simply ran until they were wrapped in a teammate’s arms, each embrace a living snapshot of relief and joy. Even the Jamaican players, flat on the turf in exhaustion and disappointment, were pulled into the celebrations.

One hundred and twenty minutes of tense, scoreless football had finally been settled in the 105th minute when Axel Tuanzebe, the defender raised in the Congolese diaspora, forced the ball over the line from close range. The goal, the only one of the match, ended the longest World Cup drought in African history and sent the Leopards to their first global finals since 1974, when the country competed as Zaire.

“I was born in 1991,” Bakambu, the Real Betis forward, said minutes later, still catching his breath in the mixed zone. “I’ve never seen the DRC at a World Cup. To be part of the team that takes the country there? It’s incredible.”

The victory was not merely for the 23 players on the pitch. It was for Mwepu Ilunga, whose infamous dash from the defensive wall to boot away a Brazil free-kick in 1974 became a global punchline. It was for Eugene Kabongo Ngoy, Dieumerci Mbokani, Issama Mpeko and the dozens of others who carried the national team through decades of near-misses. It was for supporters too young to remember 1974 — and for those who remember it too well. Zaire, as the nation was then known, had arrived in West Germany as Africa’s first sub-Saharan qualifier, fresh from two Africa Cup of Nations triumphs. They left humbled, scoreless and having shipped 14 goals, but the experience felt like a beginning. Instead, it became a lonely memory.

The renaissance began in August 2022 when French coach Sebastian Desabre took charge. He immediately tapped into the global Congolese diaspora, recruiting players raised in Europe and North America. Sunderland midfielder Noah Sadiki arrived from Belgium’s youth setup; West Ham United full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka switched from England’s Under-21s; winger Nathanael Mbuku pledged after representing France at six age levels. They blended with veterans such as captain Chancel Mbemba, winger Meschak Elia and Bakambu. The results followed: 29 wins in 48 matches under Desabre, the momentum cresting on a humid night in Guadalajara.

“Today you saw players who fight for their country, who sweat through the shirt,” Desabre told reporters. “I’m very, very proud of them.”

Context magnifies the achievement. Ranked 178th out of 188 nations on the IMF’s GDP-per-capita table, the DRC has endured decades of conflict, particularly in the mineral-rich east. In the Estadio Akron’s northeast stand, a pocket of Congolese fans sang and danced for 90 minutes, then exploded into delirium at full-time. Back home, cities and villages erupted.

“The people deserve it, for everything they’ve been through,” said Moutoussamy, the Atromitos midfielder. “It’s a reward for those who have suffered, who are still suffering. We want to bring a smile to our people’s faces. Today, we’ve taken a big step.”

The road ahead is daunting. Drawn into Group K for the finals, DR Congo will face Portugal, Colombia and debutants Uzbekistan. Fate has even scheduled their second match back here in Guadalajara on 23 June against Colombia, turning the Mexican city into an unlikely pilgrimage site for Congolese football.

For now, the squad will allow themselves to exhale. The weight of more than half a century has been lifted, replaced by the lightness of history achieved.

“This is a battle we’ve been fighting for years and years,” Moutoussamy said, voice cracking. “There was a lot of pressure, a lot of tension, but we played with heart and character. We’re going to savour this.”