Bakambu Strike Sends Congo DR Past Togo in World Cup Qualifier

The Leopards' early efficiency proved enough to secure three crucial points in African World Cup qualifying.

Cédric Bakambu needed just seven minutes to change the trajectory of Congo DR's World Cup qualifying campaign. His early strike Friday afternoon was all the Leopards required to dispatch Togo, 1-0, in a Group E encounter that showcased defensive resolve over attacking flair but nonetheless provided Congo DR with a vital pathway back into contention.

The result couldn't have arrived at a more opportune moment for the visitors. Still smarting from their narrow 3-2 setback to Senegal five days earlier—a match that exposed vulnerabilities despite demonstrating attacking prowess—Congo DR understood the assignment: secure the points and ask questions later. Bakambu, the 33-year-old striker who has become synonymous with delivering in pressure situations, obliged with clinical precision.

The goal itself came from a sequence that will haunt Togo's backline. Congo DR built patiently from the back before releasing Bakambu into space down the left channel. His first touch settled the ball, his second took him past the last defender, and his third—a low, driven finish—beat the goalkeeper at the near post. Efficient, ruthless, and exactly what title-winning teams produce when opportunities present themselves.

For Togo, the setback represents a frustrating continuation of their inconsistent qualifying form. After rebounding from a 2-0 defeat in Mauritania with a 1-0 victory over Sudan, the Hawks appeared poised to build momentum at home. Instead, they found themselves chasing shadows for much of the afternoon, unable to generate sustained pressure against a Congo DR side that defended with discipline and organization.

The statistics told a familiar story of World Cup qualifying football: one team capitalized on their chance, the other couldn't find the breakthrough. Togo managed only sporadic forays into dangerous areas, and when they did penetrate, they encountered a Congolese defense that had clearly learned from their porous performance against Senegal's potent attack.

Bakambu's goal was his second in consecutive qualifying windows, following his brace in the 4-1 demolition of South Sudan on September 5. That performance in Juba—where he scored twice in the opening half-hour—announced his intentions for this campaign. Now with three goals in three World Cup qualifiers, he's providing the sort of reliable goalscoring Congo DR has long needed at the international level.

The victory stabilizes Congo DR after the disappointment against Senegal, where they surrendered a 2-1 lead and ultimately lost 3-2 despite goals from Yoane Wissa and others. Friday's clean sheet will please manager Sébastien Desabre, who understood that defensive solidity would prove essential in a match where Togo desperately needed points.

Togo now faces mounting pressure in a qualification process that shows little mercy for dropped points. Their two-match sequence—defeat in Mauritania, victory over Sudan—suggested a team still searching for identity and consistency. Friday's loss only deepens those concerns. With limited margin for error remaining, the Hawks cannot afford another stumble when they resume qualifying action.

Congo DR, meanwhile, has reignited their campaign with a performance built on pragmatism rather than poetry. The Leopards showed against South Sudan they could overwhelm lesser opposition with attacking football. Against Senegal, they demonstrated they could trade punches with elite African sides. Now they've proven something equally valuable: the ability to grind out results when style matters less than substance.

The path to the 2026 World Cup remains long and unforgiving for both sides, but Friday's result clarified the current trajectory. Congo DR exits with renewed confidence, their qualifying hopes very much alive. Togo departs with difficult questions and diminishing opportunities to answer them.

When the dust settles on this qualifying window, the narrative will be simple: Bakambu scored early, Congo DR held firm, and three points changed everything.