Congo DR Set for AFCON Qualifier Against Ethiopia with Group Top Spot at Stake

On Tuesday, the Democratic Republic of Congo (Congo DR) will face Ethiopia in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match at Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte. Kick-off is scheduled for 6 pm local time, marking the final game of the group stage for both teams.

Congo DR, known as The Leopards, have already secured their place in the 2025 AFCON finals, sitting atop Group H with 12 points. A draw in this match would be enough to ensure they remain in top position, staying ahead of second-placed Guinea, who are trailing by three points.

Despite securing qualification, Congo DR are coming off a recent 1-0 loss to Guinea, which marked their first defeat in the ongoing qualifying campaign. The result ended their seven-match unbeaten streak across all competitions. The Leopards aim to regain their form as they look to finish the group stage strongly.

In contrast, Ethiopia has had a disappointing qualifying campaign. The Walia Ibex have only managed to gather one point from five games and are languishing at the bottom of the group. Their most recent outing saw them suffer a 2-0 defeat to Tanzania, dashing any remaining hopes of qualification. The team is playing for pride, hoping to secure a morale-boosting win to round off a difficult campaign.

Congo DR’s head coach, Sébastien Desabre, acknowledged the shortcomings of their last performance against Guinea and emphasized the need for improvement. “We have to accept the defeat and work harder for the next match. We had a much poorer offensive display than in previous games,» he commented.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s interim coach, Mesay Teferi, praised his team’s efforts despite their recent defeat. «We tried but could not withstand the fast attacks from Tanzania. However, I am grateful for the efforts of my players,» Teferi stated.

DR Congo’s expected lineup might see Dylan Batubinsika’s return after missing the Guinea match due to injury. Meanwhile, Ethiopia are set to be without forward Abubeker Nasir, who is still recovering to full fitness.

Historically, Congo DR has been dominant in their encounters with Ethiopia, winning five out of the seven matches played between the sides. Their last meeting ended with a 2-0 victory for Congo DR in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, during this qualification campaign. Tuesday’s match is anticipated to be a spirited clash, despite the lack of stakes for Ethiopia in the group standings.