Senegal vs D.R. Congo Prediction & Betting Tips (27 December)

By beating Botswana on Tuesday afternoon with a stunning 3-0 score, Senegal continued its crazy series of invincibility in the African Cup of Nations, undefeated since 2019, excluding the penalty shootout. Better yet, Senegal is one of the most prolific teams in the African Cup of Nations with no less than 34 achievements in the last 4 editions. The Lions of Teranga reached the round of 16 stage during the last edition and intend to take advantage of this CAN as a springboard for the World Cup, where as a reminder, they will cross swords with the France team in the first group match. The Leopards of the DRC got off to a good start in their competition by winning, not without difficulty, against a very good opposition from Benin by the smallest of margins 1-0. We can mention that the Democratic Republic of Congo was even dominated by having only 40% possession of the ball and shooting once less than Benin.

However, the result is positive for the DRC which now aims to take revenge on Senegal who beat them during the World Cup qualifiers, thus depriving them of direct qualification for the world championship. Indeed, in November, Cédric Bakambu's teammates were forced to go through two rounds of play-offs to finally obtain their ticket for an intercontinental play-off, the last step before possible qualification for the 2026 World Cup, by claiming the scalp of Nigeria in the final victory on penalties. The Congolese reached the semi-finals of the CAN during the previous edition and seem to be constantly evolving now. 

The Lions of Teranga are deprived of winger Assane Diao (winger, Como) and Ilay Camara (lateral, Anderlecht) forced to withdraw from the competition in recent days after being injured while former executives Abdou Diallo (ex-PSG) and N. Mendy (ex-Lens, Nice) were not called up. Returning from injury, former Strasbourg player Habib Diarra (4 goals in 16 caps) joined the selection. Against Botswana, Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich) stole the show from Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr, 118 sels, 50 goals), scoring a double including a nice follow-up on the second goal. The former Parisian Gana Gueye (Everton, 122 sel) and the former Marseille players Pape Gueye (Villarreal, 34 sel), Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace, 76 sel, 18 goals) and Iliman Ndiaye (Everton, 33 sel, 3 goals) are well summoned like the former Monegasque and starting full-back during the J1: Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray, 24 caps) and right back Krepin Diatta (Monaco, 50 caps). Central defender Kalidou Coulibaly (Al-Hilal) could honor his 100th selection today. The Lyonnais Moussa Niakhaté (23 caps), the Niçois Mendy (4 caps), the Messins Habib Diallo (36 caps, 8 goals) and Cheikh Sabaly (11 caps) and the young Parisian Ibrahim Mbaye (3 caps, 1 goal) are part of the group. For its part, the DRC is advancing with a very good team on paper where the only absences are midfielders Mario Stroykens (Anderlecht), injured and replaced by the experienced Kakuta (ex-Lens), Grady Diangana (Elche, 7 sel, injured), Silas, Willy Kamwbala (Villarreal, injured since the start of the season), Aaron Tshibola (Levadiakos, 16 sel), Mvumpa (Stuttgart, 18 caps), no longer selected since March and the attackers Muleka (Konyaspor, 18 caps), Pululu (injured) and the serious Yoane Wissa (Newcastle, 34 caps, 8 goals).

By choice, Bondo (Cremonese) decided to leave the selection alone by no longer wanting to play there. Against Benin, it was winger Theo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow, 33 caps) who also scored his 7th goal in the colors of the Leopards. In the eleven, Cédric Bakambu (Bétis, 65 sels, 20 goals), the Montpellier Mbuku (13 caps), Sadiki (Sunderland, 14 sels), Kayembe (Watford, 37 sels) or even the former Nantes player Moutoussamy (Atromitos, 53 caps). Defensively, it's solid with the presence of full-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham, 7 caps), Masuaku (Sunderland, 42 caps) and central Mbemba (captain, Lille, 101 caps) and Tuanzebe (Burnley, 8 caps). Let's not forget to mention the presence of Lille Mukau (8 selections) and Charles Pickel (Espanyol Barcelona, ​​30 caps). Replacement goalkeeper Diouf (Nice) will return from suspension. On the other hand, he should sit on the bench, given that former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is number 1. 

• Summary: Senegal is going head to head with DR Congo starting on 27 Dec 2025 at 15:00 UTC at Stade Ibn-Batouta stadium, Tanger city, Morocco. The match is a part of the Africa Cup of Nations, Group D .
• Senegal Feedinco Rating: 7.22
• D.R. Congo Feedinco Rating: 6.83