Former DR Congo captain Youssouf Mulumbu believes the current set of players in their national team are on the same level as Africa’s heavyweights and are capable of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, The PUNCH reports.
DR Congo’s first appearance at the World Cup dates back to 1974 in West Germany, when they competed (then as Zaire) in the same group with Brazil, Scotland, and Yugoslavia.
Fifty-one years later, they are competing in the playoffs against Cameroon, Nigeria and Gabon for a potential additional African ticket to the 2026 tournament after finishing as one of the best second-placed teams in the qualifying series.
DR Congo will face Cameroon in one of the semi-finals of the playoffs in Rabat on Thursday and will await the winner of the other game between Nigeria and Gabon for a date in Sunday’s final.
The winner of the African playoffs will proceed to the inter-continental playoffs by March 2026 in Mexico, where two tickets would be up for grabs, and Mulumbu believes the Leopards can achieve that.
“When I joined the national team, there were many gaps. We had to rebuild and show that playing for a professional club didn’t stop you from coming to defend your country’s colours. My aim was to represent DR Congo well internationally. That’s why we were desperate to win a medal or qualify for the World Cup. It did not happen then, but I remain hopeful this generation can do it for 2026,” Mulumbu told CAFOnline while reflecting on his career.
Their national team coach, Sébastien Desabre, was the first to name his 25-man squad for the playoffs.
Coach Desabre’s squad has players from England, France, Spain, as well as an array of stars from other European countries, making Mulumbu believe they are cohesive.
“Today’s group, by contrast, is more cohesive and tightly knit. You can see it: defensively, the team is solid and concedes few goals. And on the counter, with Bakambu on a big day, it always hurts. Back then, we relied more on individual exploits. Today, it’s a smart, organised team unit.”
DR Congo still had a chance to qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup on the final day of qualifying in October, but that would have required Senegal not to win.
However, the Lions of Teranga beat Mauritania 4-0, while the Leopards won 1-0 against Sudan, who finished third. Cedric Bakambu and his teammates had to settle for second place in Group B.
