The Democratic Republic of the Congo will be more formidable than Cameroon and Nigeria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to renowned African football journalist Thomas Kwenaite.
With victories over a variety of opponents, including the Super Eagles, DR Congo qualified for the 2026 World Cup in thirteen matches.
They qualified by virtue of their 1-0 extra-time triumph over Jamaica in the intercontinental playoffs, won by Axel Tuanzebe.
With the help of a new recruitment drive spearheaded by the Congolese Football Association (FECOFA), the Leopards have added a number of players with dual nationality; however, just 10 of the present team were born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
After losing in a penalty shootout, the Super Eagles formally protested with FIFA, stating that the DRC had fielded multiple players who were not eligible due to dual nationality. FIFA eventually rejected the allegation.
Kwenaite gave the Leopards high marks for their dominating play over Cameroon and Nigeria, two of the best teams in Africa.
Their return is the most important thing. In her analysis of their qualification performances, Kwenaite concluded that they were the better team. This was particularly evident in their wins over Cameroon and Nigeria.
The veteran commentator went on to praise the Congolese team’s effort and quality, saying that they stood out from the competition all season long thanks to their approach.
They outperformed everyone else and were clearly the superior squad. Among the so-called “big teams,” their level of motivation was clearly higher. “I am absolutely thrilled,” Kwenaite chimed in.