Brentford’s forward scored from a distance of 10 yards, giving the Leopards the lead in the 62nd minute. Theo Bongonda completed a counter-attack with a goal nine minutes before the end, securing a crucial victory in the Group B opener in Kinshasa.
DR Congo, last seen in the World Cup finals in 1974 as Zaire, is placed in the same group as continental champions Senegal. The qualification format dictates that the nine group winners in the African qualifiers will secure automatic berths in the expanded 48-team tournament to be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
In another match on Wednesday, Equatorial Guinea triumphed over Namibia 1-0 in Group H, thanks to a second-half goal from Emilio Nsue, a former player for Middlesbrough and Birmingham City. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe, returning to competitive internationals, played to a 0-0 draw with Rwanda in Group C.
Despite featuring in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, Zimbabwe was excluded from the qualifiers for the 2023 tournament due to a FIFA ban resulting from government interference in the administration of the sport.
