Tuanzebe, who plays his club football in England, delivered the decisive moment when he converted from close range after a corner kick in extra time. The goal came after a tightly contested 90 minutes that neither side was able to break open during regular play. Jamaica, competing in the play-off as a representative of the CONCACAF region, were unable to find an equalizer despite pushing forward in the closing stages of extra time.
The result marks a landmark moment in Congolese football history, as the nation — formerly known as Zaire — made their only previous World Cup appearance in West Germany in 1974. That squad became the first sub-Saharan African team to appear at a World Cup, though they were eliminated in the group stage. Sunday's victory represents the culmination of a qualifying campaign that required DR Congo to navigate the intercontinental play-off route to secure their spot in the tournament.
Jamaica, meanwhile, fell short of what would have been a historic qualification of their own. The Reggae Boyz, who famously qualified for the 1998 World Cup in France, were attempting to return to football's biggest stage for the first time in nearly three decades. Their campaign ends at the play-off stage despite a competitive performance against the African side.
DR Congo's qualification adds to the growing list of nations confirmed for the 2026 World Cup, which will be the first edition to feature 48 participating teams. The expanded format means more opportunities for nations from all confederations, with the intercontinental play-offs providing a pathway for teams that narrowly missed automatic berths through their respective regional qualifying tournaments. The Leopards will now begin preparations for their group stage assignment when the draw takes place ahead of the tournament.
