DR Congo striker Bakambu on qualifying for World Cup: "Would be the most important event in my football life"

Photo Credit: Real Betis

Real Betis and DR Congo striker Cédric Bakambu has no illusions at this point. The 34-year-old hitman knows that he is in the twilight of his career but continues to produce for both club and country.

Bakambu was on target Thursday as Real Betis took a big step towards the semifinals of the UEFA Europa Conference League with a 2-0 first leg victory over Poland's Jagiellonia. While the Congolese continues to feature mostly as a substitute for Betis in La Liga play, the Conference League has offered him increased opportunities for playing time where he has six goals in ten matches this season.

But one thing is on his mind beyond anything else...helping his nation qualify for their first World Cup in over fifty years. The last time DR Congo participated in the biggest football event was in 1974 when the nation was known as Zaire, at the time the second African nation to take part and the first sub-Saharan African nation to qualify.

Bakambu, born in France, would love nothing more than to bring World Cup football back to the nation of his parents that has embraced him so much: "Yes, I would like to qualify for the World Cup with the Congo national team. I know that I am at the end of my career and it would be the most important event in my football life, the best gift. I dream about it and I think we can do it," Bakambu stated in an interview with Polish outlet TVP Sport.

After representing his country of birth at youth national team level, Bakambu decided to represent DR Congo in a choice that led to a rapturous reception in Kinshasa when he first reported for duty with the Leopards in 2015: "I hadn't even played a match yet they made banners for me. It's really something else. It was through football that I discovered my country... I grew up with both cultures and I am very proud of that. I think it's something that enriches you," Bakambu told UEFA's website in 2016.

The Leopards are currently in first place in a tight Group B in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying in the African region. A one-point lead ahead of Senegal and Sudan leaves little margin for error but with the newly expanded field at the World Cup, an opportunity to participate has never been more likely.

While there is fierce competition for the striker position from options like Simon Banza and Fiston Mayele, Bakambu remains a reliable choice for Leopards coach Sébastien Desabre either in the XI or off the bench. Bakambu currently has 16 goals in 54 appearances for DR Congo and is clearly ready to give his all for one last World Cup qualification campaign.