Renowned African football journalist Thomas Kwenaite has asserted that the Democratic Republic of Congo is a stronger team than Cameroon and Nigeria as they head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
DR Congo needed a total of thirteen matches to achieve qualification for the 2026 World Cup, successfully defeating various opponents along the way, including the Super Eagles.
Their qualification was secured through the intercontinental playoffs, where an extra-time goal from Axel Tuanzebe resulted in a 1–0 victory over Jamaica.
The Congolese Football Association (FECOFA) has launched an aggressive recruitment initiative, successfully persuading several dual-national players to commit to the Leopards, with fewer than ten members of the current squad actually born in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Following their penalty shootout defeat, the Super Eagles filed a formal protest with FIFA, claiming that the Democratic Republic of Congo had fielded several ineligible dual-national players; however, the complaint was ultimately rejected.
Kwenaite praised the Leopards for their outstanding performances against notable African teams such as Nigeria and Cameroon.
“The most crucial factor is that they are back. When you analyze their performance during the qualifiers, especially their victories over both Cameroon and Nigeria, it is clear that they were the superior team,” Kwenaite remarked on SuperSport’s Soccer Africa.
The seasoned pundit further emphasized the quality and determination displayed by the Congolese team, noting that their strategy set them apart from their rivals throughout the campaign.
“They were the better team, they performed exceptionally well. It was evident that they were the more motivated of the so-called big teams. I am very pleased,” Kwenaite added.