The Central Africans are chasing a return to FIFA’s flagship competition after a 52-year absence and have been drawn to face Jamaica or New Caledonia in the final of the 2026 World Cup play-off tournament.
The Leopards reached the stage after defeating Nigeria in a hotly contested play-off fixture. The two-time Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions are bidding a second outing at the global finals, with their only previous appearance coming in 1974.
DR Congo ready for play-off tournament
“We’re really fired up. We’re still on course to meet our main objective. That’s the goal we set ourselves when I took this job three and a half years ago,” Desabre told FIFA.com.
“This final will be our 13th match since our qualifying campaign began. It’s definitely been a long road to get here and we’ve worked our way through every stage.”
The play-Off Tournament will determine two qualification spots for 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be played in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The play-offs will take place on 26 and 31 March 2026 at two venues in Mexico.
He added: “I can’t point to just one moment. It’s about everything we’ve been through together – the highs and the lows. Those experiences have made us stronger and more resilient, and they’ve led us to this point.
“After all the hard work the players and the staff have put in over the last three years, they’ve thoroughly earned it.”
On DR Congo conceding only one goal in their last four qualifying matches, he said: “Defensive solidity is the bedrock of our side, but our attacking numbers have also been good in recent matches.
“In Congo DR, we’re lucky enough to have talented players who ply their trade at top clubs. Above all, everyone has really bought into the project we’ve been building together.”
‘We’ve got to stick together’
Desabre continued: “The players share a strong bond both on and off the pitch. Everyone is pulling in the same direction to achieve a common goal.
“We can make it tough for our opponents because we play as a unit: our forwards track back, our defenders push forward and everyone pulls together, as if they were soldiers going into battle for their country.
“That’s what matters most to me and it’s what I ask of the players every time they go out there. We have to leave everything out on the pitch and we need to play with real aggression – in the right way, of course. We’ve got to stick together and, most of all, stay grounded.”
The play-off tournament will be held in North America and will act as a preparatory event for the World Cup. Desabre has sent warning they will not be afraid of their opponents.
“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 Congo DR won 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time). We know all about Jamaica and New Caledonia,” offered Desabre.
“We’ve been scouting them. We’ll have the chance to watch them play over in Mexico on 26 March, but, for now, we’re focusing on our own players.”
He continued: “We all want to go to the World Cup, but we can’t let our emotions or the magnitude of the occasion get the better of us. In the end, what matters is playing well, keeping our feet on the ground and giving everything we’ve got out on the pitch.
“We need to focus and perform well on the day to get the job done and make Congo proud. That’s what it’s all about for us. The Congolese are passionate about football and some of them are going through difficult times.
“I know that the whole nation will come to a standstill on March 31 so, people can watch the match. We hope we can give our fans the lift they deserve.”
DR Congo (formerly Zaire) has appeared in the FIFA World Cup once, in 1974, becoming the first sub-Saharan African nation to qualify. They finished 16th, losing all three-group stage matches with zero goals scored and 14 conceded, including a famous 9-0 loss to Yugoslavia.
The play-offs will be played in single-leg knockout matches. If scores are level at the end of normal time, 30 minutes of extra time will be played, where each team will be allowed to make a sixth substitution.
If the scores remain tied, a penalty shoot-out will be used to determine the winner.
DR Congo squad for FIFA play-off Tournament
Goalkeepers: Theo Fayulu (FC Noah), Lionel Mpasi (Le Havre), Matthieu Epolo (Standard Liege).
Defenders: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United), Jeremy Ngakia (Watford), Joris Kayembe (Genk), Arthur Masuaku (Lens), Chancel Mbemba (Lille), Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley), Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian), Steven Kapuadi (Widzew Lodz), Dylan Batubinsika (Larissa).
Midfielders: Noah Sadiki (Sunderland), Edo Kayembe (Watford), Samuel Moutoussamy (Atromitos), Charles Pickel (Espanyol), Ngal’ayel Mukau (Lille), Meschack Elia (Alanyaspor), Theo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow), Nathanael Mbuku (Montpellier), Bryan Ssebinya (Castellon), Grady Diangana (Elche).
Forwards: Simon Banza (Al Jazira), Fiston Mayele (Pyramids), Cedric Bakambu (Real Betis), Yoane Wissa (Newcastle United).
