The atmosphere of great emotions turned into chaos. After a dramatic 2026 World Cup qualifier between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal, fans in Kinshasa vented their frustration by destroying infrastructure at the Stade des Martyrs.

Dramatic course of the match

On Tuesday afternoon in Kinshasa, the eighth round of the African qualifiers took place. The clash between DR Congo and Senegal was played for the top spot in Group B, which guarantees direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Unsurprisingly, the 80,000-seat Stade des Martyrs was packed to capacity, and the atmosphere before kickoff resembled that of a major tournament final.

The hosts started strongly. After the break, the Lions of Teranga took control. Nicolas Jackson equalized, and in the closing stages Matar Sarr scored the winning goal. The match ended 3–2 for Senegal.

Frustration and acts of violence

The final whistle triggered an outburst of anger in the stands. DR Congo fans began ripping out plastic seats and throwing them onto the pitch. Security had to intervene amid the chaos, and images of vandalism quickly spread across the world’s media. Fortunately, no casualties were reported among spectators, though the damage to the stadium is serious and will require costly repairs.

Thanks to the victory, Senegal took control of Group B with 18 points, ahead of DR Congo (16 pts) and Sudan (12 pts). In the African qualifiers, only the group winners secure direct World Cup spots, while the remaining teams must rely on playoffs.

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