Our prediction for this Africa Cup of Nations 2024 match:
Morocco
Match Time & Date:
21/01/2024
09:00 AM
Prediction: 2-1
DR Congo
Following a 3-0 win over Tanzania, Morocco will look to book their place in the Africa Cup of Nations knockout stages when they take on D.R. Congo on Sunday afternoon. Walid Regragui continues doing a great job with the World Cup semi-finalists and they are seen as favourites to win their second group game as well. There are no fresh injury worries in the home team, with both Saiss and Chibi being only one yellow card away from suspension.
Les Leopards, on the other hand, kicked off their AFCON campaign with a 1-1 draw with Zambia. The nominal visitors will rely on the likes of Bakambu, Bongonda, and Wissa in Sunday’s encounter, but given the number of high-profile players in Walid Regragui’s team, home win should definitely be considered. D.R. Congo defender Gedeon Kalulu should be cautious after picking up a yellow card in the opener.
Highlighted Player (Amine Harit):
Amine Harit is a French-born Moroccan footballer, who plays for Schalke 04 in Bundesliga. Born in Pontoise (France) on June 18, 1997, Harit began his youth career in the suburbs of Paris, learning the football basics with Argentuil C.O.
After spending four years at Esperance Paris 19eme, the attacking midfielder moved to famous French club Paris Saint-Germain. However, he quickly returned to Esperance Paris 19eme and in 2011 he joined fellow French club Red Star. One year later he moved to Nantes, where he ended his youth career.
Amine Harit continued playing for les Canaris at senior level and after scoring one goal in 30 league games for Nantes, he signed a contract with Bundesliga side Schalke 04. Harit made two appearances for France U21 team, but he represents Morocco at senior level. The attacking midfielder, who is used as a winger as well, made his Morocco debut on October 7, 2017 against Gabon in the 2018 FIFA world cup qualifiers.
Highlighted Team (DR Congo):
Democratic Republic of Congo made no more than one appearances at the World Cup finals. DR Congo qualified for the major tournament in 1974 and they were playing under the name of Zaire back then. Zaire failed to impress at the showpiece tournament in West Germany as they were beaten by the likes of Scotland, Brazil and Yugoslavia in the group stages.
The Leopards suffered a heavy 9-0 loss to Yugoslavia in Gelsenkirchen and that is considered the team’s biggest defeat. DR Congo (Zaire) won two African Cup of Nations titles, with the team lifting the prestigious trophies in 1968 and 1974.
It has to be noted that the team won the bronze medal at both the 1998 and the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. DR Congo play their home games in sky-blue shirts with red sleeves, while the colour of their away kit is white. Dieumerci Mbokani is the team’s most notable player.
