2023 AFCON: Tanzania v DR Congo preview

The 35th match in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations sees Tanzania and DR Congo clash at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium.

Date: Wednesday, 24 January 2024

Kick-off: 22h00 CAT

Head-to-head: This will be the first meeting between the two teams on Africa’s biggest stage. They last encountered one another during the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign when the Leopards ran out 3-0 victors in Dar-es-Salaam after the tie in Lubumbashi ended in a 1-1 draw. Overall, their head-to-head record is dead-even, with two wins and two draws each.

Tanzania’s last three results: The Taifa Stars came into the tournament on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Egypt on January 7 and they kicked off their Group F campaign with another 3-0 loss to Morocco before sharing the spoils with Zambia in a 1-1 draw on January 21.

DR Congo’s last three results: Sebastien Desabre’s side concluded their AFCON preparations with a 2-1 defeat to Burkina Faso on January 10 and are unbeaten in the group after playing out to consecutive 1-1 draws against Chipolopolo and the Atlas Lions.

Team news: Tanzania are boosted by the return of Novatus Miroshi, who sat out the game against the Copper Bullets through suspension following his sending-off in the defeat to the Moroccans. DR Congo came through their heated encounter with the North Africans unscathed and will be at full strength for their final Group D match.

Key player – Tanzania: Simon Msuva is the most experienced player in Hemed Suleiman’s squad and his 11th-minute opener against Zambia saw him move level with team-mate Mbwana Samatta on 22 goals, placing them just three behind Mrisho Ngassa, who is the country’s all-time leading scorer.

Key player – DR Congo: Yoane Wissa only has 20 caps for his country after making his debut in 2020. The Brentford winger scored the Leopards’ first goal of the tournament when he equalised against Zambia and has featured every minute of their opening two group matches.