Tanzania vs D.R Congo Prediction: Crucial one for Congo

A spot in the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations hangs in the balance as Tanzania squares off against the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium on Wednesday night. In a set of simultaneous kick-offs within Group F, the Leopards, having secured two points from their initial two matches, are aiming for a victory to maintain their leading position. Conversely, the Taifa Stars are at risk of elimination if they fail to secure a win in this crucial encounter.

Initially labeled as the underdogs of Group F, Tanzania has exceeded expectations by remaining in the running for a spot in the knockout stage ahead of their final match. Despite a challenging start with a 3-0 defeat to Morocco, they showcased resilience in a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Zambia, keeping them in contention. Simon Msuva's quick response after a turnover gave Adel Amrouche's team an early lead, but a powerful header from Patson Daka in the closing minutes forced Tanzania to settle for a draw.

In the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, Tanzania has yet to secure a victory, having faced six defeats and two draws in their eight matches across three editions, including the current one. However, the upcoming match against DR Congo presents a historic opportunity for Tanzania to break this streak and advance to the knockout stage for the first time. In their previous encounters with DR Congo, Tanzania has recorded two wins, two draws, and two defeats, making the prospect of a breakthrough victory feasible as they strive for a place in the AFCON knockout stages.

Entering the tournament as the second-favorite to advance from the group, the DR Congo Leopards may have been disappointed with earning just one point in their initial match against Zambia. However, they turned the tables in their encounter with Morocco, securing a satisfying point against one of the tournament's most formidable teams. Morocco's Achraf Hakimi initiated the scoring with an early goal in the sixth minute, but DR Congo's Silas Katompa Mvumpa leveled the score with a well-deserved equalizer in the 76th minute. Cedric Bakambu had missed a crucial opportunity for the Leopards when his first-half penalty hit the woodwork.

Beyond the on-field action, a post-match altercation between players and coaching staff from both teams unfolded, reportedly triggered by Morocco coach Walid Regragui's interaction with DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba. DR Congo's main challenge in the tournament has been poor decision-making in the final third, reflected in their 35 shots across the first two matches, with only eight on target and just two resulting in goals. Despite this, coach Sebastian Desabre's team is favored in the upcoming clash, and the 47-year-old will be hopeful that his side can demonstrate clinical finishing to secure a crucial victory against the Taifa Stars.

Tanzania possible starting lineup:

Manula; Mnoga, Nondo, Hamad, Mohamed; Miroshi, Mkami; Kibu, Salum, Msuva; Samatta

Congo DR possible starting lineup:

M'Pasi; Masuaku, Kiranga, Mbemba, Kalulu; Kakuta, Moutoussamy, Pickel; Wissa, Mvumpa, Bakambu

Tanzania is currently enduring a four-game winless streak, with three of those matches resulting in defeats. Their recent struggles have been evident in their difficulty in finding the back of the net, making it imperative for them to address this issue in the upcoming week. On the other hand, Congo is on a streak of consecutive draws and has managed to secure only one victory in their last eight games across various competitions. Despite their overall performance, Congo has shown prowess in recent matchups against Tanzania and is likely to emerge victorious in this encounter.