DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo became the latest team to reach the African playoffs for the Qatar 2022 World Cup on Sunday.
Dieumerci Mbokani and Ben Malango Ngita scored as hosts DR Congo defeated Republic of Benin 2-0 to win Group J and advance to the final round of qualifying.
DR Congo needed to win to top the group and they ended up with 11 points, one more than their opponents.
The Congolese will join the other nine group winners in the straight knockout playoffs next year to fight for the five African spots in the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
In Europe also on Sunday, Croatia booked their ticket to Qatar with a 1-0 victory over Russia at the Stadion Poljud in Split.
The win ensured Zlatko Dalić’s side finished top of Group H and extend their unbeaten record in home World Cup qualifiers to 12 games.
Needing to win to seal their spot, 2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia relied on a late own goal to secure the crucial three points.
The Russians would have qualified automatically with a draw and they kept the hosts silent for 80 minutes, defending deep and rarely venturing out of their own half.
However, they were undone in agonising circumstances in the 81st minute, with Fedor Kudryashov inadvertently turning in Borna Sosa’s cross into his own net.
While Croatia have sealed a return to the World Cup, 2018 hosts Russia have to negotiate through the European playoffs to secure their own ticket, having finished second in their group.
