The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will take on Sudan at the Pentecost Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa on Tuesday, with both teams holding differing motivations as the DRC aims to secure a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup during their final qualifying match. The kick-off is set for 9 PM CAT.
The DRC recently achieved a 1-0 victory over Togo at the Stade de Kégué in Lomé, Togo, which has intensified the competition in Group B, where they are currently trailing leaders Senegal by just two points. To qualify directly, the Leopards need a win against Sudan while hoping for a Senegal loss against Mauritania. In the event that Senegal draws their match, they would remain ahead in the standings on goal difference, which means the DRC would need a significant goal haul—specifically, scoring seven goals—to match Senegal’s goal difference.
A victory for the DRC coupled with a favorable result from Senegal could potentially allow them to qualify as one of the better second-placed teams in the tournament, giving them a chance to participate in the FIFA Play-Off Tournament. A win would also give the DRC a one-point advantage over Uganda in the race for that playoff spot.
Currently, Sudan sits third in Group B, with 13 points derived from three wins, four draws, and two losses. Having already concluded their qualifying campaign, Sudan will be competing for pride after previously defeating the DRC 1-0 in November 2023 in Benghazi, Libya.
Key players to watch include DRC’s Cédric Bakambu, who scored against Togo, bringing his total to three goals and two assists in six World Cup qualifying matches. The Real Betis forward’s experience and goal-scoring prowess will be pivotal for the DRC. On the Sudanese side, Mohamed Eisa, a 31-year-old centre forward, has netted two goals in five qualifiers and will be eager to disrupt the DRC’s aspirations.
Historically, the teams are evenly matched in their encounters, having played four games with both sides claiming two victories each. As the DRC prepares for this crucial clash, the stakes are high, and fans are hopeful that their national team will rise to the occasion.