The Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan is set to witness an unexpected showdown as DR Congo faces Guinea in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Despite not being touted as favorites, both teams have defied expectations and are now on the brink of securing a coveted spot in the final four.
Road to the Quarter-Finals: Surprises and Dramatics
DR Congo and Guinea’s journey to the quarter-finals has been nothing short of remarkable. Guinea, defying the odds, emerged from the group stage as the highest-ranked third-place team. A draw against Cameroon and a win over Gambia preceded a challenging loss to reigning champions Senegal. Their resilience shone through in the knockout stage, overcoming Equatorial Guinea with a late, historic goal from Mohamed Bayo.
On the other side, DR Congo faced one of the tournament favorites, Egypt, in a nail-biting encounter that ended in a 1-1 draw. A penalty shootout ensued, where goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi emerged as an unlikely hero by scoring the decisive penalty. This dramatic victory propelled DR Congo into the quarter-finals.
Head-to-Head History: Familiar Foes
This quarter-final clash marks the fourth meeting between DR Congo and Guinea at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations. Previous encounters, all in the group stages, resulted in one win each and a draw. Notably, the last AFCON meeting occurred in 2004, where Guinea staged a comeback to triumph 2-1, with goals from Titi Camara and Pascal Feindouno.
Key Players to Watch
As the teams prepare for this pivotal clash, all eyes will be on Mohamed Bayo, Guinea’s talisman, who has scored 2 out of 3 National Elephants Goals. Meanwhile, the Leopards will look to Meschack Elia, the playmaker involved in crucial moments, to guide them to the semi-finals.
Current Form and Statistics
Guinea, having secured two wins in AFCON 2023, matches their total victories from the previous 13 games in the competition.
DR Congo enters the quarter-finals with an unusual record – drawing their last five AFCON games, the second-longest such run in their competition history.
Probable Lineups;
Guinea ;
Ibrahim Kone , Issiaga Sylla, Diakhaby, A.Diawara, M. Guilavogui, Mohammed Bayo, I. Diakite, J. Jeanvier, Aguibou Camara,M. Konate, S. Sylla.
DR Congo ;
Lionel Nzau, Dylan Buduka, S.Moutoussamy, Theo Bongonda, Meshack Lina, Cedric Bakambu, Charles Monginda, Yoane Wissa, Chancel Bemba, Gedeon Kyatengwa, Fuka Kawela.
