Senegal Host AFCON Semifinalists
DR Congo Senegal vs DR Congo Prediction, Odds, and Team News
Winner Could Jump to Top of Group B
Senegal and DR Congo are two African sides with World Cup aspirations. Both teams reached the Third Round of 2022 World Cup Qualifiers as Senegal advanced to Qatar 2022 but DR Congo lost to Morocco. On Thursday, Senegal host Africa Cup of Nations Semifinalists DR Congo in an important CAF World Cup Qualifier. If Senegal win, they’ll almost certainly stay on top of Group B. A DR Congo victory could have the same effect, depending on the Mauritania vs. Sudan result. Stick around for our Senegal vs DR Congo prediction as we preview the odds and team news.
Senegal vs DR Congo
Date & Time: Thursday, June 6th, 3:00 p.m. ET
Location: Stade Me. Abdoulaye Wade, Dakar, Senegal
Senegal vs DR Congo Head-to-Head
Our Senegal vs DR Congo prediction will take into account the fact that DR Congo haven’t defeated Senegal since 1968. However, these teams have never played any FIFA World Cup games in qualifiers against each other. They last met at the 2023 African Nations Championship, which only featured players taking part in their countries’ domestic leagues. Senegal beat DR Congo 3-0 last year but their last “full” international was in 2011. Senegal have won each of their last four matches vs DR Congo, in all competitions.
Diatta, Jakobs, Dia Notable Absentees for Senegal
Senegal entered January’s Africa Cup of Nations as joint-favorites to win the tournament. The Lions of Teranga won the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 2022 but couldn’t manage to pull off a repeat. Things started off well, as Senegal won all three of their Group Stage games.
However, Senegal went out to hosts, and eventual champions, Ivory Coast in penalties in the Round of 16. Key midfielder Krepin Diatta blasted the Confederation of African Football by calling them “corrupt” based on refereeing decisions that went against Senegal. He’s now suspended for this pair of qualifiers vs. DR Congo and Mauritania, as a result. Regardless, Bettors should note that the Senegal national football team haven’t lost any of their last ten 90 minute games.
While Diatta is out, fellow Monaco and Senegal teammate Ismail Jakobs is injured. Boulaye Dia has played plenty of minutes under Aliou Cisse but the striker is not in the squad this time around. Dia was frozen out in the last few months of the Serie A season by Salernitana due to a “lack of professionalism”. Fode Ballo-Toure, Cheikhou Kouyate and Ahmadou Bamba Dieng are others who played at AFCON but didn’t make the cut here.
Mikayil Faye, an exciting young center back for Barcelona B, scored on his Senegal debut in March and has received another call up. Mainstays like Sadio Mane, Edouard Mendy, Ismaila Sarr and Idrissa Gueye are all in the squad. So far in qualifiers, Senegal have defeated South Sudan 4-0 and drawn 0-0 at Togo.
DR Congo Missing Star Goalie
DR Congo’s run to the Africa Cup of Nations Semifinal was unexpected and their first appearance at that stage since 2015. Sebastien Desabre’s team drew all of their matches in the Group Stage, which was good enough for a second place finish in Group F. The draws continued into the Round of 16, where DR Congo triumphed over Egypt in penalties. Les Leopards got their first, and only, 90 minute win of the tournament, when they took down Guinea 3-1 in the Quarter-Finals.
In the Semis, DR Congo fell 1-0 to Ivory Coast and they also lost in penalties in the Third Place Game to South Africa. Defender Chancel Mbemba and forward Yoane Wissa made the AFCON Team of the Tournament. Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi had a breakthrough tournament but he’s out with a knee injury. Forward Cedric Bakambu recently had hamstring surgery and Stuttgart’s Silas isn’t in the squad.
Heading into this pair of qualifiers, DR Congo are in third place in the FIFA World Cup African qualifiers standings. They beat Mauritania at home but lost to Sudan on the road. Former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe has received his first-ever call up here. Meanwhile, forward Simon Banza scored 21 goals for Braga this season but he’s still looking for first DR Congo goal.
Senegal vs DR Congo Match Analysis & Odds
With DR Congo number one keeper Lionel Mpasi out, Desabre will either turn to Dimitry Bertaud or Timothy Fayulu. Bertaud and Fayulu have two combined appearances for DR Congo and one of them will be expected to face a fair few shots on Thursday. Plus, Senegal haven’t lost a competitive match on home soil for almost 12 years.
Currently, Senegal are -155 moneyline favorites and Senegal -0.5, -1 sits at -115 odds. DR Congo are +460 underdogs and a draw is priced at +225. Bettors can take DR Congo +0.5, +1 at -105 but they have typically struggled in matches vs. Senegal. Both over and under two goals are priced at -110 odds too.
We think this is a relatively straightforward bet. Senegal are usually excellent at home, have a stronger squad, and haven’t lost a 90 minute game for over a year. Our Senegal vs DR Congo prediction is that the Lions of Teranga will take advantage of DR Congo’s goalkeeper situation and win this one.
