Sports Mole previews Sunday’s African Nations Championship clash between Congo DR and Congo, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
In the second Group B fixture, Congo DR will lock horns with Congo at the Stade Omnisport de Douala on Sunday evening.
The two-time CHAN winners will aim to put their 1-1 friendly draw against Tanzania behind them as they start their hunt for a third CHAN title.
Match preview
The Democratic Republic of Congo are the most decorated team in the African Nations Championship, having won the competition on two occasions.
Their first taste of success came in the maiden edition of the tournament where they defeated host nation Ivory Coast in the finals, while their second was against Mali in 2016, after a 3-0 finals thrashing of the Eagles in Rwanda.
The Congolese Association Football Federation announced that AS Vita head coach Florent Ibenge would lead the Leopards to Cameroon, alongside former TP Mazembe boss Pamphile Mihayo.
In their friendly draw with Tanzania, Fiston Kalala Mayele grabbed the only goal for DR Congo when he capitalized on a poor defensive error to fire past goalkeeper Juma Kaseja.
On the other hand, Congo-Brazzaville will be making their third appearance at the bi-annual championship, after defeating Equatorial Guinea in an exhilarating qualifiers showdown.
After a 2-2 draw away to the Nzalang Nacional of Guinea, Congo secured a dramatic 1-0 victory at the Alphonse Massemba-Debat Stadium to book their place in Cameroon.
The closest the Central African nation have come to lifting the title is a quarter-final finish in 2018, and Brazilian head coach Valdo Filho has been charged to lead the Congolese to glory this year.
After facing Congo DR, Congo-Brazzaville will take on Niger in Douala four days later, before a final group stage game against Libya on January 25.
Congo DR form (all competitions): LLDDWD
Congo form (all competitions): DLWDDW
Team News
Both teams arrive in Cameroon with fully rested players and clean bills of health, having passed the pre-CHAN coronavirus testing.
FC Renaissance goalkeeper Ley Matampi, known for his famous bum slide celebration, is expected to make the starting XI, as the Leopards will aim to take full advantage of the 32-year-old’s experience.
The duo of Fiston Kalala Mayele and Lilepo Makabi is expected to lead Florent Ibenge’s attack, just like at club level, where their partnership has helped AS Vita move up to second in the Vodacom Ligue 1 table.
AS Otoho d’Oyo forward Bersyl Obassi bagged a brace in Congo-Brazaville’s first-leg draw with Rwanda, and he is expected to return to the starting lineup on Sunday after he was rested in the second leg.
Congo DR possible starting lineup:
Matampi; Mpeko, Luzolo, Baka, Idumba; Kinzumbi, Masasi, Miche, Gbazeke; Lilepo, Mayele
Congo possible starting lineup:
Pavelh; Haria, Varel, Francis, Cervel, Nzadu, Berysl, Hardy, Aime, Archange, Prince
We say: Congo DR 1-1 Congo
With both Congo DR and Congo having a well established domestic league from which their squad have been drawn from, this Group A clash promises to be a thrilling encounter. A draw is predicted, as both nations are evenly matched on paper, however, both sides are capable of stealing it at the end.
Top betting tip
— to www.sportsmole.co.uk
