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DR Congo fans dance in the rain after sealing World Cup spot for first time in 52 years

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DR Congo players and coaching staff celebrate after qualifying for the World Cup during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following a 1-o win over Jamaica at the Akron Stadium in Zapopan, Jalisco state, Mexico, on March 31, 2026. [Ulises Ruiz / AFP]

Delirious football fans took to the soaked streets of the capital Kinshasa and danced into the night in the rain after the Democratic Republic of Congo reached the World Cup for the first time in 52 years.

Defender Axel Tuanzebe, who plays in the Premier League for Burnley, was the hero with the only goal in a 1-0 win over Jamaica after extra time in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico on Tuesday.

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