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‘DR Congo better than Super Eagles’ – Thomas Kwenaite

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‘DR Congo better than Super Eagles’ – Thomas Kwenaite

The DR Congo national football team booked their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a gruelling qualification journey that spanned thirteen matches, including key victories over the Super Eagles.

Their qualification was confirmed via the intercontinental playoffs, where an extra-time strike from Axel Tuanzebe secured a narrow 1–0 win against the Jamaica national football team.

The Congolese Association Football Federation has also drawn attention for its aggressive recruitment strategy, successfully convincing several dual-national players to represent the Leopards, with fewer than ten members of the current squad born in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Following their elimination, the Nigeria Football Federation lodged a protest with FIFA, alleging that DR Congo fielded ineligible players. However, the complaint was ultimately dismissed.

Renowned African football journalist Thomas Kwenaite praised the Leopards for their performances throughout the qualifiers, particularly their victories over Nigeria and Cameroon national football team.

“The main thing is that they are back. And when you look at the way they played during the qualifiers, beating both Cameroon and Nigeria in particular, they were the better team,” Kwenaite said on SuperSport’s Soccer Africa.

He further highlighted the team’s hunger and cohesion, noting that their approach set them apart from other top sides during the campaign.

“They were the better team, they played so well. You could see they were the hungrier of the so-called big teams. I am very happy,” he added.

DR Congo’s return to the global stage marks a significant achievement, underpinned by strong performances, tactical discipline, and a renewed sense of purpose within the squad.

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Samuel Ahmadu
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.