The curtain comes down on matchday 1 with a tie that pits to evenly-matched teams agaisnt one another when Zambia face DR Congo at Sade de San Pedro.
AFCON 2023
Match 12 – DR Congo v Zambia
Wednesday 17 January | 22:00
With only Nigeria (22 goals) and Mali (15) scoring more than Zambia (12) during the AFCON qualifiers, I expect Chipolopolo to come out of the blocks firing in this one. This tie has increased significance with Morocco in action a bit earlier against the lowest-ranked side in the Group, Tanzania.
To Win Match
DR Congo 33/20| Draw 16/10 | Zambia 18/10
Sébastien Desabre took over a DR Congo side that had endured the worst possible start to qualifying for AFCON. After a home defeat to Gabon and an away loss to Sudan, the DR Congo football association decided to let go of then-boss Hector Cuper, in favour of Deseabre. The move has paid off handsomely, with the Frenchman guiding Les Léopards to the top of their group.
During the forty-seven-year-old’s four qualifiers, DR Congo netted ten goals, with Cedric Bakambu personally contributing three of those from as many starts. The Galatasaray man has been struggling for form domestically, but an impressive AFCON campaign could be just what he needs.
At the opposite end of the pitch, DR Congo conceded just once across their four qualifiers, under the tutelage of Desabre. That impeccable defensive record will surely be under scrutiny as they navigate Group F.
Leicester-based attacker Patson Daka is firing on all cylinders for club and country. Across his six appearances in the EFL Championship during December 2023, the forward scored four goals and followed that up with two assists. During the AFCON qualifiers, he bagged five goals which includes a pair against tournament hosts Ivory Coast. Furthermore, he added a brace against Congo Republic in their FIFA World Cup qualifier fixture.
Zambia have no issue finding the back of the net and head coach, Avram Grant, has definitely had a part to play in that. The former Premier League boss has had experience at some of the most prestigious clubs in England, with London outfits Chelsea and West Ham appearing on his CV. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating his team at the business end of the pitch.
Verdict: Zambia 18/10
This one is surely going to be a high-octane game of football. I have a feeling both teams will find the back of the net on the night and this one will be a game of fine margins. Due to Zambia’s stability, I have to hand this one to Avram Grant’s side.
