The Republic of Congo Leopards have emerged victorious (1-0) after extra time against the Jamaican Reggae Boyz in a match for the final of the intercontinental playoffs. The match took place in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Actualite.cd clarifies that the Congolese Fauves secured this qualification with great courage and dedication in front of an opponent who played their match as expected.
“With a team that remained unchanged, Sébastien Desabre and his players had a difficult match as anticipated, but they managed to outplay all Jamaican attempts that could have caused them harm. They put pressure when needed and scored at crucial moments. It was known that this would be a match decided by details, and this was confirmed on the field,” noted the colleague, emphasizing that 52 years later, the national team has made history with this hard-fought victory. The entire Congolese people are proud of their team, which will be the 10th African nation in the World Cup, fulfilling the wishes of all Africans.
ACP: 2026 World Cup – Qualification of the RDC: April 1st declared a public holiday (Press Release)
Commenting on the latest news, the Congolese Press Agency (ACP) revisits the statement from the Ministry of Employment and Labor in the DRC, declaring April 1, 2026, a public holiday across the country to celebrate the Leopards’ qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Following the victory and qualification of our Leopards for the 2026 World Cup, the Ministry of Employment and Labor informs the nation that Wednesday, April 1, 2026, has been declared a public holiday across the national territory,” ACP wrote in their headline this morning.
According to the document dated April 1st, this exceptional decision is in line with the will of the President, Félix Tshisekedi, and the government, to allow the Congolese population to celebrate in unity, fervor, and national pride. The RDC Leopards’ qualification, achieved late on the night of March 31st and April 1st, will be an opportunity for all Congolese throughout the country to savor this national team’s feat in Mexico, awaiting their triumphant return.
An explosion of joy fills the pages of all newspapers this morning. “Historical!” exclaims Actu30.Cd. Fifty-two years after their last participation in 1974, the Leopards of the DRC finally return to the global stage.
Le Potentiel does not mince words and describes the players as “heroes.” The newspaper highlights how the felines managed to “break the curse” by overcoming Jamaica in this playoff match. A victory that sends an entire nation to the final.
Similarly, Infos27 and 7sur7.Cd echo this sentiment of an endless wait coming to an end. For our colleagues, this qualification is not just a sporting achievement, it is a symbol of national resilience. After decades of disappointments, the DRC validates its ticket and is preparing to proudly wave the tricolor flag under the world’s spotlight.
