TALKING POINTS PRE BRIGHTON (H): TUANZEBE

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Defender reflects on World Cup qualification success and previews Saturday's clash with Brighton

2026-04-10T13:42:20.799Z

TALKING POINTS PRE BRIGHTON (H): TUANZEBE

Defender reflects on World Cup qualification success and previews Saturday's clash with Brighton

2026-04-10T13:42:20.799Z

Defender reflects on World Cup qualification success and previews Saturday's clash with Brighton

After an 'eventful' couple of weeks for Axel Tuanzebe, which saw the centre-back score the history-making winning goal to send the DR Congo to this summer's World Cup, the 28-year-old is now ready to get back to business with the Clarets.

The defender turned home the crucial winner in the DR Congo's qualifier play-off final against Jamaica during the March international break and Tuanzebe is now back at base at the Burnley Training Centre, following a special homecoming ceremony back in his native country last weekend.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's clash with Brighton & Hove Albion, Tuanzebe discussed his recent success with the national team, this weekend's clash with the Seagulls and being back at Turf Moor.

LANDMARK WORLD CUP BOUND WINNER

"It's been an eventful couple of weeks for sure. Early on before I went away, I was battling an injury here, trying to make myself available for the team here at Burnley, but it ended up falling on the international break.

"Even leading into that game on the week of it, I wasn't so sure I was going to be able to play, but I made it and to play a role in the win was an extraordinary feeling.

"It meant so much to the country, it's been 52 years since we reached a World Cup and the energy was so special when we returned to Congo and the scenes I saw that day is like something you will only see once in a lifetime.

"The journey for us in the national team has been amazing and we've built some real momentum going into the World Cup now."

TALKING POINTS PRE BRIGHTON (H): TUANZEBE - Image 1

RARING TO GO

"It's been good to be back with the boys, training this week has been really good and you can see the team are raring to go for this weekend after a long break.

"Brighton away was a disappointing one for us earlier this season and we know we have to go for it now and show teams what we're capable of."

BACK HOME

"It's good to be returning back home after this long break, rather than travelling to an away game, back in front of our fans.

"The fans have a huge role to play too, we can feel the energy on the pitch and we know that comes from us playing well, but we need to all stick together in these final seven games."