The Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa descended into chaos on Tuesday night after DR Congo surrendered a two-goal lead and crashed to a dramatic 3-2 defeat against Senegal in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying clash.
Enraged by the late collapse, sections of the home crowd vented their frustration by tearing out seats, smashing stadium property, and hurling debris across the stands. Videos of the vandalism, now circulating widely on social media, have drawn sharp condemnation from fans, pundits, and local officials.
Et voilà, on y est | Stade des Martyrs après la défaite de la #RDC face au #Sénégal. pic.twitter.com/r0FuH40QwR
— Steve Wembi (@wembi_steve) September 9, 2025DR Congo’s Dream Start Turns into Nightmare
The Leopards looked destined for a famous victory after a blistering opening half hour.
- Cédric Bakambu broke the deadlock in the 26th minute with a clinical finish, sparking wild celebrations.
- Just seven minutes later, Yoane Wissa pounced on defensive indecision to double the lead, putting the Congolese firmly in control at 2-0.
The home crowd roared with belief, but Senegal refused to fold.
Senegal Mount Spirited Comeback
The Lions of Teranga clawed their way back before the break. Pape Gueye’s strike in the 39th minute halved the deficit, giving Pape Thiaw’s side renewed confidence.
Senegal came out with ferocity in the second half, overwhelming DR Congo’s midfield and forcing errors at the back. In the 53rd minute, striker Nicolas Jackson coolly slotted home the equaliser to silence the Kinshasa faithful.
Both teams traded chances in an end-to-end contest, but it was Senegal who found the decisive blow.
Late Winner Seals Senegal’s Triumph
With just three minutes left of normal time, Pape Matar Sarr struck the killer goal, completing a stunning turnaround and sending the travelling supporters into raptures.
The final whistle confirmed Senegal’s victory and sparked despair in the home stands, where frustration quickly boiled over into violence. Security forces had to intervene as broken plastic seats and scattered debris marred the famous stadium.
Group B Shake-Up
The comeback win propelled Senegal above DR Congo in the Group B standings, tightening their grip on qualification heading into the final two fixtures in October.
For DR Congo, the collapse represents both a crushing sporting setback and a public relations disaster, as attention turns from their World Cup hopes to the unruly scenes that overshadowed the night in Kinshasa.
