DR Congo Faces Botswana in Crucial AFCON 2025 Group D Showdown

RABAT, Morocco — The final showdown in AFCON 2025 Group D is set for Tuesday as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) faces Botswana at Stade Al Medina. With both teams desiring a win, this match will determine their paths in the upcoming knockout stages.

Currently, DR Congo sits in a strong position, needing only a victory against already-eliminated Botswana. The Leopards have accumulated four points from their two matches, including a crucial draw against Senegal and a narrow win over Benin. “We are aiming for first place in the group. A win will give us the best chance going into the knockout stages,” said DR Congo’s coach, Sebastien Desabre.

Botswana, on the other hand, remains at the bottom of Group D without any points after losing both of their previous matches, failing to score a single goal. They lost 3-0 to Senegal and narrowly fell 1-0 to Benin. “We want to end our tournament on a high note,” said Botswana’s captain. Despite being eliminated, the team looks to salvage their pride by competing hard against DR Congo.

This match marks Botswana’s first encounter against a team from outside West Africa in AFCON history. Their previous outings have been against West African teams, and they have never scored against DR Congo in their past matches. Historical records show that DR Congo has won two of their five encounters, while three matches have ended in a draw.

A defeat for Botswana could see them become the second team, after Benin, to lose their first six matches at AFCON. Conversely, if DR Congo wins, they will finish at the top of Group D, setting them up for a more favorable matchup in the Round of 16, similar to their run in 2023 when they reached the semifinals.

This anticipated match will kick off at 8:00 PM local time (7:00 PM GMT). Fans can catch the action live on beIN SPORTS XTRA.