DR Congo women’s national team produced a remarkable turnaround to defeat Indonesia 7-1 and secure a place in the final of the FIFA Women’s Series 2026 tournament in Thailand.
The emphatic victory not only sealed qualification for the final but also ended a difficult run of form for the Leopards, who had failed to win any of their previous nine matches, losing seven of them.
Their dominant display marks a significant shift in momentum as they prepare to face hosts Thailand in Ratchaburi on Wednesday, 15 April.
DR Congo were forced to come from behind in the semi-final after Indonesia took an early lead.
However, the response was swift and decisive. Marlène Kanjinga equalised in the 23rd minute to restore parity and spark a commanding performance from the Congolese side.
From that point, the Leopards took full control of the contest. Flavine Mawete put them ahead in the 29th minute before Kanjinga added her second goal in the 59th minute.
Olga Masombo further extended the lead with a goal in the 52nd minute, while Mawete completed her brace in the 74th minute.
Farida Feza rounded off the scoring in the 82nd minute, capping an impressive attacking display that saw DR Congo score seven times after conceding first.
The result represents one of the team’s most convincing performances in recent outings, highlighting a renewed attacking sharpness after a prolonged period of struggles.
Having gone nine matches without a win, the scale of the victory will provide a significant boost in confidence ahead of the final.
Their opponents, Thailand, booked their place in the final with a comfortable 4-0 victory over New Caledonia in the other semi-final.
Goals from Natalie Ngosuwan, T. Promthongmee, J. Jinathuya and Alisa Rukpinij ensured the hosts progressed without difficulty.
The final now sets up a meeting between a resurgent DR Congo side and a confident Thai team playing on home soil.
For the Leopards, the challenge will be to build on their semi-final performance and maintain the attacking efficiency that proved decisive against Indonesia.
Beyond the result itself, DR Congo’s progression to the final signals a potential turning point for the team.
After a prolonged winless streak, their ability to respond to an early setback and produce such a dominant scoreline suggests renewed belief within the squad.
As they head into the final, the Leopards will be aiming not only to claim the title but also to confirm that their resurgence is more than just a single performance.
