Axel Tuanzebe the hero as DR Congo pip Jamaica to secure World Cup return after 52-year hiatus | OneFootball

Burnley defender scored extra-time winner as Les Leopards battled to defeat stubborn Reggae Boyz

Axel Tuanzebe scored the only goal as DR Congo beat Jamaica after extra-time to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1974.

Congo were known as Zaire when they last attended a World Cup finals, and crashed out in the group stage after shipping 14 unanswered goals between heavy defeats by Yugoslavia, Brazil and Scotland.

And just 52 years later, Burnley defender Tuanzebe became the man to send his nation back to the pinnacle of the international game. His tap-in finish came in the 100th minute of an intense qualifying play-off final meeting with Jamaica, condemning the Reggae Boys to wait at least another four years before breaking their own hiatus, which now stands at 28 years.

It was a tightly contested match from the off and Real Betis striker Cédric Bakambu thought he had put his side ahead after just a few minutes before being denied by the offside flag.

He repeated the feat after the break and also drew a smart save from Andre Blake, whose remarkable performance in the Jamaica net forced the match into extra-time.

Axel Tuanzebe scored the winner to send DR Congo to the World Cup finals

REUTERS

There had been a litany of squandered corners in regular time, so naturally it would be a set-piece that finally broke the deadlock. Some heavy-legged defending from Jamaica saw the cross go unclaimed and fall to Tuanzebe at the back-post, who poked home beyond the imperious Blake.

Try as they might, Jamaica could not find a way back level through a second-half which was disrupted by an injury to referee Facundo Tello, who left the pitch in tears with an apparent calf injury.

“We made it a very difficult game for ourselves,” said Tuanzebe at full-time.

“It was so frustrating, there were some nerves, the pressure of the occasion got to us a bit. As soon as we got into our stride we started playing much better football. We were the better team.

“To get the winning goal for the country, that is something as a young boy you dream about. It has happened for me and I am so very happy.”

For Congo, the win caps an 18-month World Cup qualification campaign which involved some 13 matches. They will face Portugal in Houston to open their tournament.

Meanwhile, Jamaica will be left frustrated after Steve McLaren’s decision to resign his post in November left them with an interim manager in place for the final matches of their own.