Our prediction for this Africa Cup of Nations 2024 match:
Gabon
Match Time & Date:
18/06/2023
02:00 PM
Prediction: 1-0
DR Congo
Gabon welcome D.R. Congo to Stade de Franceville in what is expected to be one of the most interesting games of Sunday’s program. Gabon aim to recover from a 1-0 loss to Sudan and we are positive that they will go all guns blazing at the Leopards. Since Chelsea attacker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Wolverhampton midfielder Mario Lemina are both back to the squad, home win should be considered.
D.R. Congo, on the other hand, head into the match following a 1-1 draw with Mauritania. Anyhow, we are tempted to put our money on Gabon as they are a real force to be reckoned with at home. To make things even worse for the away team, Olympiacos Piraeus striker Cedric Bakambu serves a one-game ban. Earlier in the process Gabon defeated D.R. Congo thanks to Shavy Babicka’s goal and we predict that history is going to repeat itself.
Highlighted Player (Cedric Bakambu):
Cedric Bakambu is considered one of the best African strikers. He was a French youth international and he played for les Tricolores at the 2010 UEFA U19 European Championship. France defeated Spain in the final of the tournament and that is regarded as Bakambu’s biggest success, speaking of his international career.
However, despite playing for France youth teams, Cedric Bakambu decided to represent DR Congo at senior level and he made his debut for the Congolese national team against Cameroon. He scored his first goal for DR Congo in a 2-1 win over Angola on 26 March, 2016. Speaking of his club career, the pacey attacker played for Sochaux from 2010 to 2014 and on 1 September, 2014 he moved to Bursaspor.
After scoring 13 goals in 27 league appearances for the Turkish outfit, Bakambu signed a five-year deal with La Liga side Villarreal on 19 August, 2015 and he has been playing for the Yellow Submarine ever since. The Congolese striker made his Villarreal debut on 23 August, 21015 in a 1-1 draw with Real Betis.
Highlighted Team (Gabon):
Gabon made their international debut in April 1960, with the team participating in L’Amitie tournament and it has to be noted that les Pantheres (the Panthers) were beaten by Burkina Faso in their first match. The Gabonese national football team have yet to participate at the World Cup finals, but they did well to make it to the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals on two occasions.
Les Pantheres were eliminated by Tunisia at the 1996 African Cup of Nations, while Mali proved to be a big catch for Gabon at the 2012 tournament. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is probably the most notable footballer who plays for Gabon and the Borussia Dortmund striker scored three goals for the national team at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, but he missed a penalty in the quarter-finals against Mali.
Gabon clinched the UNIFAC Cup title in 1999, while winning UDEAC Championship in 1985 and 1988. Stade Omar Bongo is considered Gabon’s home stadium.
