CHANCEL Mbemba struck a dramatic stoppage-time winner as the Democratic Republic of Congo edged past Cameroon 1-0 to book a date with Nigeria in the final of the African play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Leopards’ captain slipped free of his marker to meet Brian Cipenga’s deep corner in the first minute of added time, stunning the five-time African champions and sending DR Congo into Sunday’s decisive clash in Rabat.
The defeat ended Cameroon’s hopes of reaching a ninth World Cup. The Indomitable Lions, Africa’s most frequent participants at the tournament, will miss out on next year’s expanded 48-team edition.
With just six places separating the teams in the FIFA world rankings, the semi-final encounter was evenly balanced and played in heavy rain that made conditions tricky at the neutral venue in Morocco.
Cameroon goalkeeper André Onana produced a fine low save to keep out Cédric Bakambu just after the hour mark, while Bryan Mbeumo went close for the Lions minutes later.
Mbeumo’s teammate Karl Etta Eyong also squandered two late chances before Mbemba’s decisive finish settled the contest.
DR Congo, whose only World Cup appearance came in 1974, when the country was still known as Zaire, will now face Nigeria, who earlier defeated Gabon 4-1 after extra time, for a spot in the six-nation intercontinental play-offs scheduled for March.
The winner of that round will claim one of the final two berths for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
