Authorities in the Democratic Republic Congo have declared Wednesday a public holiday after the national football team qualified for their first World Cup in 52 years.
The Leopards reached the finals on Tuesday when Axel Tuanzebe’s extra-time goal gave them a 1-0 win over Jamaica in the play-off.
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DR Congo’s ministry of labour and employment said that as a result of the “historic” victory, the nation could have the day off work to “celebrate in unity, fervour and national pride”.
The central African nation has only played in the World Cup once before – in 1974 when the country was named Zaire.
Tuesday’s match was an intense affair, with former Manchester United player Tuanzebe only breaking the deadlock in the 100th minute.
Elated football fans celebrated in the capital, Kinshasa after the team’s victory was confirmed just before 01:00 local time on Wednesday morning.
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One supporter told the BBC: “Whatever we may be feeling at the moment, amidst pain and war and occupation, this victory makes us proud… I feel so emotional and happy.”
DR Congo has been battered by decades of conflict. The fighting escalated early last year when the M23 rebel group captured swathes of territory in the country’s east.
In the Kinshasa neighbourhood of Kingabwa, football fans took to the streets chanting: “Christiano Ronaldo is next”.
DR Congo’s first match will be against Ronaldo’s Portugal in the US city of Houston on 17 June.
They will also play Colombia and Uzbekistan in the group stages.
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DR Congo are the 10th African nation to reach this year’s expanded World Cup finals, jointly hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada.
Additional reporting from Emery Makumeno in Kinshasa
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