DR Congo and Benin will kick off Group D of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday afternoon when they meet at the Al Barid Stadium in Rabat. With Senegal and Botswana still waiting later in the group, both sides know this opener could shape everything that follows, so starting well matters, maybe more than usual.
DR Congo arrives in Morocco with confidence that has been building for months now. After reaching the semi-finals at the last AFCON and falling only to eventual champions Ivory Coast, Sebastien Desabre’s side has continued to grow.
DR Congo posted photos of their players training ahead of the game via their official X account.
View the post below:
Softfootball understands that their World Cup qualifying path was not smooth, finishing as one of the best runners-up, but recent victories over Cameroon and Nigeria in the inter-confederation playoffs have lifted belief again.
They are now just one win away from only their second-ever appearance at a World Cup, which says a lot.
Preparation for this tournament has also been solid. A comfortable win over Zambia in their final warm-up made it five victories in a row, conceding just once in that stretch. That defensive discipline could be vital in a competition where games often turn tight and physical, especially early on.
Benin, by contrast, is still looking for rhythm. This is only their fifth AFCON appearance, and their best run remains a quarter-final exit back in 2019. Still, the presence of head coach Gernot Rohr brings some hope. The German knows this tournament well, having led Nigeria to a bronze medal in 2019, and his experience could count.
Recent form is worrying, though; a 4-0 defeat to Nigeria in the World Cup qualifiers and a 3-0 defeat to Burkina Faso have knocked confidence.
Benin have never beaten Congo DR before, but Tuesday might feel like a good chance to try to change that.
Team News
Congo DR will be without Yoane Wissa, who is only just returning from a long knee injury picked up during the September international break. His absence puts pressure on Cedric Bakambu, who will lead the attack and is just two goals away from breaking Dieumerci Mbokani’s long-standing national record.
Benin are expected to rely on Steve Mounie up front. He, too, is chasing history, sitting two goals short of Stephane Sessegnon’s national scoring record. Young midfielder Dokou Dodo, 21, looks set to make his AFCON debut after becoming a regular under Rohr.
Possible Lineups
Congo DR:
Mpasi-Nzau; Wan-Bissaka, Tuanzebe, Mbemba, Masuaku; Mukau, Moutoussamy, Sadiki; Elia, Bakambu, Mbuku
Benin:
Dandjinou; Kiki, Tijani, Verdon, Ouorou; Imourane, Dodo, Olaitan; Aloko, Mounie, Tosin
Softfootball’s Prediction
Congo DR looks to be in a better place right now, both mentally and tactically. Even without Wissa, their recent form and defensive strength should be enough to control this opener.
Prediction: Congo DR 1–0 Benin
