DR Congo have secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification inter-confederation play-offs set to take place in Mexico next year.
The Super Eagles, who finished as the best runners-up in the group where Bafana Bafana secured their ticket to the global event, they thrashed Gabon 4-1 earlier this week to secure a place in the final against the DRC – who eliminated Cameroon.
And the West Africans raced into an early lead in the third minute with a strike from Frank Onyeka, which was a rare bit of quality in the final third for Eric Chelle’s side.
They were punished for their lack of composure, as they spurned several half-chances when Meshack Elia levelled matters from a tap-in just after the hour mark, finishing off an inch-perfect delivery from Cedric Bakambu.
It turned into a rather tentative and dire affair, with perhaps Congo edging proceedings all the way until extra-time, with the game eventually finishing 1-1 after 120 minutes.
However, the Leopards reigned supreme in the eventual penalty shoot-out, with a 4-3 win in sudden-death, as captain Chancel Mbemba scored the winner sealing their place in the six-time mini-tournament that offers the final two spot in the 2026 Mundial, to be held in United States of America, Canada and Mexico.