The Democratic Republic of Congo qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974, securing their spot with a 1-0 victory over Jamaica in an inter-confederation playoff on Tuesday. The match, played in Guadalajara, Mexico, went to extra time to decide the outcome.
Axel Tuanzebe, a former England under-21 international and Manchester United defender, scored the winning goal in the 100th minute. He netted following a corner kick, sparking celebrations amongst fans of one of Africa’s largest nations.
The win marks a return to the World Cup finals for the Democratic Republic of Congo after a 52-year wait. Tuanzebe has received widespread adulation for his decisive goal in the qualifying playoff.