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The Democratic Republic of Congo has declared Wednesday a public holiday after its national football team qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 52 years. The team, known as the Leopards, secured their place with a 1-0 play-off victory over Jamaica on Tuesday, featuring an extra-time goal by Axel Tuanzebe. The ministry of labour and employment stated the holiday was created to allow the nation to celebrate the historic achievement.
The central African nation has only played in the World Cup once before - in 1974 when the country was named Zaire.
Numerous employers honoured the holiday on Wednesday, with many banks and shops shut throughout the day in the capital, Kinshasa.
However some employers proceeded with the work day as normal as the announcement - made at approximately 08:00 local time (07:00 GMT) - came at such short notice.
Tuesday's match was an intense affair, with former Manchester United player Tuanzebe only breaking the deadlock in the 100th minute.
Elated football fans celebrated in Kinshasa after the team's victory was confirmed just before 01:00 local time on Wednesday morning.
DR Congo has been battered by decades of conflict. The fighting escalated early last year when the M23 rebel group captured swathes of territory in the country's east.
Although neighbouring Rwanda is widely believed to be supporting the M23 and the two countries' leaders have exchanged bitter insults in recent years, Rwanda's government has congratulated DR Congo on qualifying.
Deputy government spokesperson Jean Maurice Uwera said in a post on X: "Leopards stepping up for Africa! Congratulations DR Congo, go make the continent proud on the world stage."
In the Kinshasa neighbourhood of Kingabwa, some fans took to the streets chanting: "Christiano Ronaldo is next".
DR Congo's first match will be against Ronaldo's Portugal in the US city of Houston on 17 June.