Congo DR vs Mauritania Match Analysis and Prediction

Congo DR vs Mauritania Match Analysis & Prediction

Congo DR

15/11/2023 7:00 pm

Mauritania

by Vincent

2 weeks ago 0 36

DISCLAIMER: All odds are quoted at time the prediction went live. Check the sports book for updated odds

Congo DR and Mauritania kick off their quest for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they meet at the Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecote in the Group B opener on Wednesday.

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Best Odds: 1.65

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Both drawn in Group I of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, the two nations finished in the top two to secure their places in Ivory Coast and will now renew acquaintances for the third time this year.

Having kicked off their campaign with back-to-back defeats to Gabon and Sudan, Congo DR looked set to miss out on AFCON for the second successful year, having failed to qualify in 2021.

However, a run of four wins from four while scoring 10 goals and conceding just one in their subsequent four games saw them storm to the top of Group I, finishing two points above runners-up Mauritania.

Sebastien Desabre’s side have since struggled to grind out results, as they suffered a 1-0 friendly defeat to South Africa on September 12 before playing out successive draws against New Zealand and Angola.

Having played their last three matches on the road, Les Leopards now return home, where they are unbeaten in seven of their last eight competitive matches, with a 1-0 defeat to Gabon in June 2022 being the exception.

Congo DR aim to continue this fine run as they kickstart their quest for a first World Cup appearance since 1974, when they lost each of their three matches to suffer a group-stage exit.

Meanwhile, Mauritania were denied a third successive victory across all competitions on October 17 when they suffered a 2-1 friendly defeat to Burkina Faso.

Mohamed Konate and Stephane Aziz Ki scored either half to put Les Etalons in a commanding lead at the Stade Pere Jego, before 30-year-old Pape Ibnou Ba pulled one back in the 65th minute.

Prior to that, Amir Abdou’s side recorded back-to-back victories over Sudan and Gabon in the AFCON qualifiers, where they finished second in Group I with 10 points from six matches, before claiming a 2-1 victory over Madagascar on October 14.

With the goal being to make their first-ever World Cup appearance in 2026, Mauritania will now look to return to winning ways and get their qualifying campaign off on the right path.

Congo DR vs. Mauritania Head to head

Congo DR have won each of the three previous encounters between these two teams, scoring seven goals without conceding.

14/01/2014

Congo DR

1

Mauritania

0

CAF African Nations Championship
24/03/2023

Congo DR

3

Mauritania

0

AFCON Qualification
29/03/2023

Mauritania

0

Congo DR

3

AFCON Qualification
15/11/2023

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
15/11/2023

Congo DR

N/A

Mauritania

N/A

CAF World Cup Qualifiers

Congo DR Team News

Congo DR have called up 26 players for the qualifying ties against Mauritania and Sudan, including the likes of goalkeeper Lionel M’pasi, defender Chancel Mbemba and Galatasaray striker Cedric Bakambu.

Brentford striker Yoane Wissa should join Bakambi in attack, while there is expected a midfield trio of Gael Kakuta, Watford’s Edo Kayembe and Nantes man Samuel Moutoussamy.

Congo DR's Last 5 Matches

18/06/2023

Gabon

0

Congo DR

2

AFCON Qualification
09/09/2023

Congo DR

2

Sudan

0

AFCON Qualification
12/09/2023

South Africa

1

Congo DR

0

Friendlies
13/10/2023

New Zealand

1

Congo DR

1

Friendlies
17/10/2023

Angola

0

Congo DR

0

Friendlies

Mauritania Team News

Sint-Truidense striker Aboubakary Koita has lit up the Belgian top flight this season and the 25-year-old has earned his first-ever call-up to the Mauritania national team.

Koita is currently the joint-top scorer in the Belgian top flight with 10 goals in 14 matches, level with Cercle Brugge striker and Togolese international Kevin Denkey, and the Sint-Truidense man is expected to lead the visitors’ attack.