Congo DR vs Zambia Match Analysis & Prediction
17/01/2024 11:00 pm
The first round of matches in the Africa Cup of Nations will draw to a close on Wednesday night when Congo DR face Zambia at Stade Laurent Pokou.
Group F appears to be a difficult one to navigate for these two and features African powerhouse Morocco and the tricky Tanzania, who will meet in the other match in this section at this venue earlier in the day.
Congo DR have slipped from the spotlight in recent years and will enter this year’s tournament hopeful of lifting the AFCON title for the first time in five decades.
The Leopards have earned two continental titles in their history, with the last success coming back in 1974 when they were still known as Zaire, while their previous victory came in 1968.
They were in real danger of missing out on this year’s tournament, as they lost their first two qualifying matches, which led to the sacking of Hector Cuper, but that has seemed to have marked something of a turning point for the team.
Sebastien Desabre was appointed to lead the team through the remaining qualification matches, and the Frenchman did just that as his side secured four successive victories to top their group, which included Gabon, Sudan and Mauritania.
Congo DR have since been less impressive, winning just one of their next seven matches, while they enter this contest winless in their last three, which included defeats to Sudan (1-0) and Burkina Faso (2-1), while they were held to a draw by Angola in their first warm-up match on January 6.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s AFCON history is a strange one since the last time that they ever won a game in the continental tournament was when they lifted the trophy back in February 2012.
However, Chipolopolo failed to muster much of a title defence, exiting in the group stages of each of the next two tournaments while failing to even qualify for the following three editions leading up to this one.
Nevertheless, now under the guidance of former Chelsea manager Avram Grant, Zambia could be one of the dark horses in this tournament and have improved notably over the last year.
Chipolopolo were very impressive during the 2023 COSAFA Cup, where they finished second in their group but rose to win the tournament, beating Lesotho 1-0 in the final through a decisive goal from Moyela Libamba.
Since that result, Zambia have played six matches, splitting them with two wins, two losses and two draws, with their most recent match ending in a 1-1 draw against Cameroon in their only warm-up game last week.
Congo DR vs. Zambia Head to head
In the five previous meetings between these two teams, Zambia have claimed one victory while they have drawn in four.
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25/09/2005Zambia2Congo DR2Friendlies
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27/09/2005Congo DR0Zambia0Friendlies
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11/12/2005Congo DR1Zambia1Friendlies
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14/12/2005Zambia4Congo DR1Friendlies
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18/01/2015Zambia1Congo DR1CAF Africa Cup of Nations
Congo DR Team News
Midfielder Edo Kayembe was forced to withdraw from the Congo DR squad after sustaining an injury in Watford’s 3-3 draw against Plymouth Argyle at the start of the new year.
Galatasaray’s Cedrid Bakambu and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa are expected to spearhead the team’s attacking effort.
Congo DR's Last 5 Matches
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17/10/2023Angola0Congo DR0Friendlies
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15/11/2023Congo DR2Mauritania0CAF World Cup Qualifiers
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19/11/2023Sudan1Congo DR0CAF World Cup Qualifiers
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06/01/2024Congo DR0Angola0Friendlies
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10/01/2024Congo DR1Burkina Faso2Friendlies
Zambia Team News
Ayr United defender Frankie Musonda’s fitness was in doubt in the lead-up to the tournament, but he has been passed fit for the game and will be eligible to feature in Grant’s starting XI.
Leicester City forward Patson Daka and Al Fayha attacker Fashion Sakala will be expected to lead their side’s attacking effort, with Enock Mwepu now retired from all forms of football due to a heart condition.
Zambia's Last 5 Matches
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12/10/2023Egypt1Zambia0Friendlies
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17/10/2023Zambia3Uganda0Friendlies
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17/11/2023Zambia4Congo2CAF World Cup Qualifiers
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21/11/2023Niger2Zambia1CAF World Cup Qualifiers
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09/01/2024Zambia1Cameroon1Friendlies
Congo DR vs. Zambia: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
Double Chance: Zambia or X
Best Odds
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