The last group stage game against Benin launched DR Congo to the top of the lot in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and straight to the playoffs. The World Cup dream seemed to be closer and closer. DR Congo have never qualified for a World Cup since renaming it from Zaire, but it appears that they will maybe have to keep waiting. A gross error in terms of substitutions allowed can deprive them of advancing to the playoffs.🚨 DR Congo beat Benin 2-0 to qualify to the playoffs BUT DR Congo made 4 substitutions at 4 different stoppages in the 2nd half. Benin have submitted a protest and DR Congo could very well be disqualified (teams are allowed to make up to 5 changes but only during 3 stoppages). pic.twitter.com/p1Ha68ePdT— Walid Ziani (@bylka613_) November 14, 2021 Their coach, an experienced Hector Cuper, used four change windows during the second half when the maximum allowed is three, excluding halftime. The substitutions were at 63 ‘, 77’, 84 ‘and the last in 90’, with the game already killed. The visitors, upon realizing the infraction, did not hesitate to report it to FIFA.##NAJAVA_MECA_5982514##In November 2020, Equatorial Guinea won 3-2 Libya in the game in which the same thing happened. The visitors used four substitution windows. Libya filed a complaint about what happened, and the Guinean team was not sanctioned, but the match referees for the error. This precedent gives the Congolese hope.
