DR Congo vs Benin Prediction 23 December 2025
🔊 Can the Congolese take the lead in Group D after the first round of AFCON 2025? On Tuesday, the Al-Medina Stadium in Rabat will host a group stage clash between DR Congo and Benin in the Africa Cup of Nations. The bookmakers favor the "Leopards," who impressed in their recent World Cup 2026 qualifiers. But can they replicate that success on the continental stage? Read our analytical piece for an insightful prediction on the outcome of this match.
Head-to-Head
📊 These opponents have faced each other only twice, both times during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. The results from those encounters were a home victory for DR Congo (2-0) and a draw (1-1).
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
DR Congo Team Overview
🔵 The DR Congo national team have participated in five of the last six Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, reaching the playoffs in four of them. Two years ago, the "Leopards" finished fourth in the tournament, and in 2015, they claimed the bronze medal. This makes them legitimate "dark horses" for AFCON 2025. Their recent performances in World Cup qualifiers also boost their confidence: the "Leopards" secured a spot in the World Cup by defeating Cameroon (1-0) and Nigeria via a penalty shootout (2-1) in playoff matches.
🔴 DR Congo's strength is considered to be their defense - they conceded just one goal in two playoff matches against top-tier teams, and that was due to a deflection. In attack, much of their hopes rest on Cedric Bakambu, who plays for Real Betis. While he shows promise, his club playing time has been limited. Nevertheless, DR Congo will be a formidable opponent for any team in this tournament.
Match Results: DR Congo
Benin Team Overview
🟢 Over the last seven editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, Benin's national team has only participated once. That was in 2019 when the "Cheetahs" reached the quarter-finals, defeating Morocco on penalties in the playoffs. The lack of experience in such tournaments is bound to affect their performance, which is why bookmakers consider Gernot Rohr's team one of the underdogs in Group D.
🟡 In the recent qualifying cycle for the 2026 World Cup, Benin's national team held onto hopes of securing a coveted spot, including a direct qualification, until the final matchday. However, a 0-4 defeat to Nigeria dashed those plans, leaving them in third place with an equal number of points as Nigeria and trailing South Africa by one point. Following this setback, Gernot Rohr's squad suffered a loss in a friendly against Burkina Faso, just a month before the start of the AFCON.
Match Results: Benin
Latest news
DR Congo
🏆 The DR Congo national team have previously claimed the Africa Cup of Nations title, although it's been quite some time. The "Leopards" were crowned continental champions in 1968 and 1974. Currently, DR Congo have a solid squad, poised to attempt a repeat of those "golden" achievements.
❌ There are no injured key players in the DR Congo lineup. Sébastien Desabre has called up everyone who can genuinely strengthen the team for the tournament.
Benin
❌ Benin's main hope in the attacking line is Andreas Utondji, who plays in the German Bundesliga for St. Pauli. The issue is that he suffered an injury at the start of the season and has only recently recovered, so he hasn't had the chance to regain full form. Will he start from the first minute on the pitch? Probably yes! But whether he can deliver his best football remains a big question.
🟨 Card Prediction
Over the last five official matches across various tournaments, the yellow card statistics for the teams are as follows: DR Congo average 1.3 per game, while Benin tally up to 3. The "Cheetahs" tend to commit more fouls and receive more cautions than their opponents, making a bet on Benin to win the yellow card count a compelling option.
⚽️ Goal Prediction
DR Congo's individual total in their last five matches averages 1.2 goals per game, matching Benin’s statistic of 1.2 as well. The overall scoring in matches involving these teams is relatively low: Sebastien Desabre's side averages 2, while the "Cheetahs" average 2.4. It’s clear both teams struggle significantly in creating and converting chances upfront, making a bet on under 2.5 total goals a very promising choice.
🚩 Corner Prediction
In five official matches, DR Congo have averaged 4.8 corners per game, whereas Benin have averaged just 2 over the same period. Neither team frequently earns set pieces from the corner flag, resulting in modest numbers. Thus, betting on under 8.5 total corners appears to be a sound strategy.
Editorial Prediction
Unlike their opponents, DR Congo are regular participants in the Africa Cup of Nations (with few exceptions) and have more experience in such tournaments. Additionally, the emotional boost from qualifying for the 2026 World Cup will be a further advantage for them. We predict that DR Congo will secure a 1-0 victory in the upcoming match. Benin have failed to score in their last two games, while Sébastien Desabre's side have averaged one goal per game recently. We recommend betting on under 2.5 total goals for this encounter.
Betting Tips: DR Congo - Benin
in last 5 games (Africa Cup of Nations)..svg)
in last 9 games.in 6 of last 7 games.in 6 of last 7 games (Africa Cup of Nations).
Comparison of Teams Stats
Other predictions
