DR Congo’s Rocky Bushiri, front, and teammates have a good time at the tip of the World Cup playoff final soccer match between DR Congo and Jamaica in Guadalajara, Mexico, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
GOMA, Congo — Congo erupted in joy overnight after a A centesimal-minute goal against Jamaica sent the African country back to the World Cup for the primary time in greater than half a century.
Across the country, people danced, yelled, and hugged one another in what became a rare moment of joy for a nation battered by conflict in its mineral-rich eastern region.
Congo’s World Cup qualification got here courtesy of Axel Tuanzebe’s extra-time goal following a corner to secure a 1-0 win over Jamaica in Tuesday night’s game in Guadalajara, Mexico.
That goal and the victory over Jamaica brought an enormous relief for hundreds of thousands within the central African nation who’ve long been accustomed to news of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels fighting with government forces within the east in a decades-long conflict that has resulted in certainly one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with no less than 7 million people displaced.
The last time Congo participated within the World Cup was the 1974 edition in Germany. Then, the country had a distinct name, Zaire. It also had a distinct reality from today’s during which Rwanda-backed rebels control large swathes of land and territories in its mineral-rich eastern region.
Congolese football fans have a good time in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, as their team qualified for World Cup by winning over Jamaica in an intercontinental playoff, Wednesday, April 1, 2026.(AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)
“Have a look at this crowd, we’re stuffed with joy since the victory is ours, we’re very completely satisfied,” said an overjoyed Alain Kagama at a bar in town of Goma, the epicenter of the violence which has been under rebel control for over a 12 months.
“It has been an extended time since we smiled, but today we’re completely satisfied,” Kagama added.
The victory also united the country, drawing commendations from each the federal government and rebels.
Videos showed Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi hugging and celebrating with soccer fans and officials as his government commended the soccer team for his or her victorious outing. M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka told The Associated Press the entire nation is worked up for the team.
“It’s a matter of joy, it’s a pleasure that at the subsequent World Cup, the Congolese national team can be represented,” Kanyuka said.
Since January 2025, fighting has flared between the Congolese armed forces and the M23 after the rebels swept through the eastern region in lightning attacks and seized key cities of Goma and Bukavu.
The conflict has raged on despite a truce brokered by the USA and Qatar. And clashes and drone strikes proceed, including a February drone strike that killed a senior rebel official.
With its victory within the intercontinental playoff, Congo accomplished Group K on the World Cup, where it can face Colombia, Portugal, and Uzbekistan.
As its team celebrated and danced on the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, many stayed glued to their screen, holding tight to the thrill they wished wouldn’t pass.
“Today is actually a historic day, we’re stuffed with joy as you possibly can see. … It was our parents who last saw us on the World Cup, but today we’re a part of a story that we are going to tell our youngsters,” said Christian Mihigo, a fan in Goma.