Mbemba Strikes in Stoppage Time to Send DR Congo Through

DR Congo are one win from the intercontinental playoffs, and Cameroon are out. Captain Chancel Mbemba scored in the first minute of stoppage time on Thursday night, and DR Congo beat Cameroon 1-0 in Rabat to reach the African playoff final.

The goal came from a corner. Brian Cipenga swung it deep, Mbemba drifted free at the far post, and the captain guided the ball in with the clock showing the first minute of added time. A goalless semifinal that had leaned toward extra time all night ended in one movement.

DR Congo needed their rare chances to count. On the hour, Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana dropped low to deny Cedric Bakambu, the best opening of the night to that point. Five minutes later Bryan Mbeumo shot narrowly wide at the other end, and Cameroon sensed the game was coming to them.

Heavy rain made the match cagey at Al Barid Stadium. Aaron Wan-Bissaka played the full 90 minutes at the back for DR Congo, and Sebastien Desabre's side defended their box in numbers as Cameroon pushed more men forward in the last quarter hour.

For Cameroon, the miss lands hard. Bryan Mbeumo, their Manchester United forward, put their best late opening narrowly wide and walked straight off at the final whistle. The Indomitable Lions came into the playoff as favorites after finishing second in their group, and they leave it with their World Cup over in November.

The winner came from the captain, a center back, on a set piece, in a game with one goal in 91 minutes. That is the shape of DR Congo's whole run: defend in numbers, stay in the match, and take the one moment the match offers. It has carried them past the African record holders, and it gets one more test on Sunday.

The numbers frame the upset. Cameroon hold the African record with eight World Cup appearances, and they won't add a ninth at the expanded 48-team tournament after finishing second in their group, four points behind Cape Verde. DR Congo have been once, in 1974, when the country played as Zaire.

Sunday's final in Rabat pairs DR Congo with Nigeria, who beat Gabon 4-1 after extra time earlier on Thursday. Kickoff is at 20:00 local time, and the winner advances to the intercontinental playoffs in March, where six teams play for the last two World Cup places.