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DR Congo national football team coach Sébastien Desabre says his squad is fired up for their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup intercontinental play-off, noting that the minimum target will be to replicate the performance they delivered against Nigeria national football team during the African play-off final last November.
The Congolese are heading to Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico, where they will join five other countries vying for the final two places at the expanded World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
The Leopards, who beat Nigeria 4–3 on penalties in the African play-off final, have been drawn to face the winner of the clash between Jamaica national football team and New Caledonia national football team, with a place at the 2026 tournament at stake.
As they await the winner of that tie, Desabre hopes to guide the Leopards to their first World Cup outing since 1974.
“We’re not afraid of anyone. We’re going to give it our all. As a minimum, we need to replicate the kind of performance we delivered against Nigeria (a match which DR Congo won 4–3 on penalties following a 1–1 draw after extra time). We know all about Jamaica and New Caledonia. We’ve been scouting them. We’ll also have the chance to watch them play in Mexico on March 26, but for now we’re focusing on our own players.”
DR Congo beat Nigeria on penalties in the African play-off final last November in Morocco, but the Nigeria Football Federation has moved to challenge their advancement to the intercontinental play-off.
Nigeria’s protest is based on the alleged improper switch of nationality by some DR Congo players.
While DR Congo prepare for the World Cup play-off, they have also dropped two of the disputed players — Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Mario Stroeykens — from their 26-man squad.
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