2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Senegal fight back to beat DR Congo and take Group B lead

Senegal produced a remarkable comeback to beat DR Congo 3-2 in Kinshasa and move top of Group B in African qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Leopards, who began the day a point ahead of the reigning African champions, looked on course for a famous victory after Cedric Bakambu and Yoane Wissa struck within the opening 33 minutes at a raucous Stade des Martyrs.

But the Teranga Lions hit back, with Pape Gueye reducing the deficit in the 39th minute, pouncing from close range after Iliman Ndiaye’s effort came back off the post. Gueye was then denied a leveller by goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud before Nicolas Jackson headed narrowly wide on the stroke of half-time.

Senegal’s pressure told eight minutes into the second half when Jackson scrambled home the equaliser. The turnaround was completed late on as Tottenham midfielder Pape Matar Sarr fired in from Cheikh Sabaly’s cutback with just three minutes remaining.

The victory moves Senegal two points clear of DR Congo, whose only previous World Cup appearance came in 1974 when the nation competed as Zaire.

Elsewhere in the group, Sudan’s faint qualification hopes all but ended after a 1-0 defeat away to Togo, leaving them four points behind second-placed DR Congo in third.

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