Botswana vs DR Congo: Les Leopards prep for AFCON 2025 last-16 against eliminated Dipitse
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Group D: Can Botswana avoid exiting AFCON 2025 empty-handed?
Group D at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has been one of the most entertaining, and we are likely to have three teams from this section in the last 16, with Senegal, DR Congo and Benin all in with a solid chance of progress to the knockout stage.
The Leopards confirmed our AFCON 2025 predictions in the first round by edging Benin 1-0, thanks to a Theo Bongonda strike in the first half. They then held group favourites Senegal to a 1-1 draw, with Cedric Bakambu cancelling out Sadio Mane’s match opener.
Botswana, meanwhile, failed to score a goal in their first two matches, losing their opener 3-0 to the Lions of Teranga and going down 1-0 to the Cheetahs this past weekend. As a result, the Zebras will finish at the bottom of the group regardless of the outcome in this match.
Sebastian Desabre’s side can still go top of the table if they win this match and Benin take points off Senegal in the other fixture in this section. However, the Frenchman will likely use this match as a chance to give some of his fringe players game time, as discussed in our Botswana vs DR Congo prediction.
While this is something of a dead-rubber matchup with both teams' fate probably already decided, DR Congo will not want to lose the match and disrupt their momentum, while topping the group could give them an easier fixture in the round of 16.
As far as the head-to-head stats go - these sides have never met in the Africa Cup of Nations, but they have faced off five times across all competitions, and the Leopards are carrying an unbeaten record with two wins and three draws.
Botswana are featuring in their second continental tournament and are the second team in AFCON history after Benin to have lost their first five matches. DR Congo, on the other hand, are unbeaten in their last six AFCON group-stage matches (W2 D4).
Key players: Bakambu eyes huge national record against Botswana
With Yoanne Wissa’s absence from the squad for the 2025 AFCON, DR Congo have had to rely on veteran Cedric Bakambu to lead the line for them in this tournament, and so far, he has done very well over the first two games. Don’t forget, you can follow the action in real-time via our AFCON 2025 livescores.
The Real Betis attacker scored the all-important equaliser against Senegal, which secured the team’s spot in the last 16. That strike also took him to 21 goals in 66 games for his nation, just one behind DR Congo’s all-time top-scorer Dieumerci Mbokani.
With Desabre expected to make a few changes, Arthur Masuaku will likely not be risked after picking up a knock in the last match. Joris Kayembe should therefore be handed his first start of the tournament alongside Axel Tuanzebe, Chancel Mbemba and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the defensive quartet.
Given possible rotation by their opponents, Botswana will be looking to find the back of the net at least once before bowing out. Kabelo Seakanyeng is the team’s top scorer with 10 goals, though he has not scored in over a year and will be hoping to end his goal drought in this match.
