Axel Tuanzebe is the toast of his country after DR Congo's World Cup qualification
Axel Tuanzebe handed his countrymen a day off work yesterday after the Clarets defender sent the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the World Cup.
In a tense final play-off match against Jamaica at the Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico, Tuazebe fired home from a corner 10 minutes into the first period of extra-time.
It proved to be the winner for DR Congo – who will now head to the World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico.
Tuazebe’s goal sparked wild celebration in his country of birth with authorities declaring Wednesday as a public holiday.
It is the first time the national football team has qualified for a World Cup in 52 years. They last appeared in the tournament in 1974 in West Germany when the country was known as Zaire.
While there was joy for Tuanzebe, Clarets goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka and Armando Broja both suffered play-off semi final heartache.
Dúbravka suffered play-off disappointment with Slovakia. The goalkeeper played the full 90 minutes in Bratislava in a dramatic semi-final, but his side were edged out 4-3 by Kosovo in a seven-goal thriller that ended their hopes of reaching the World Cup finals.
The Burnley shot-stopper remained involved in the camp and was on the bench on Tuesday night as Slovakia bounced back with a 2-0 friendly win over Romania.
Armando Broja also found himself on the wrong side of World Cup play-off drama with Albania. The striker came off the bench for 22 minutes in their semi-final against Poland but they were ultimately beaten 2-1
He also played the first half of a friendly against Ukraine, though Albania again fell narrowly short in a 1-0 loss.