DR Congo were the soul of AFCON 2025. On the pitch, they played a steady, effective brand of football under Sébastien Desabre, navigating their way to the knockout rounds with style and discipline.

Off the pitch, their fans became a spectacle themselves, and one man stood at the heart of it.

Michel Kuka Mboladinga became a viral sensation with his unique tribute to national hero Patrice Lumumba, capturing the spirit and pride of a nation.

Soon, that special support could even travel to the United States, carrying Congolese passion across the world.

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The story began in November 2023. On a cool evening, DR Congo stepped onto the pitch against Mauritania, hungry and determined.

That victory was the spark. Game by game, point by point, they fought their way through the African qualifiers, finishing second in their group with 22 points, a position that kept their dream alive and set the stage for the true test.

The playoffs brought their fiercest challenges.

DR Congo overcame Cameroon in the semifinals and held their nerve to edge Nigeria on penalties in the African qualification final.

Every tackle, every shot, every moment tested their resilience and proved they belonged on the world stage.

But now comes the final chapter. One last game of qualifying stands between Congo and football’s grandest stage.

They face Jamaica on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, who also finished second in the North and Central American qualifiers with 11 points and then defeated New Caledonia in the playoff semifinals.

It has been more than 52 years since DR Congo, then known as Zaire, last graced football’s biggest stage in 1974, giving the world a fleeting glimpse of their talent.

Now, one victory stands between them and the culmination of 28 months of relentless pursuit; a return to the World Cup and a triumph decades in the making.

FKA/JE

Meanwhile, watch the latest edition of Sports Check with Sports Minister Kofi Adams below: