Expert opinion: how can DR Congo overcome the Cameroonian hurdle in the African play-offs for the 2026 World Cup?

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Foot Africa

·13 de novembro de 2025

Expert opinion: how can DR Congo overcome the Cameroonian hurdle in the African play-offs for the 2026 World Cup?

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How can DR Congo overcome the Cameroonian hurdle?

Vídeos OneFootball

DR Congo/@RFI

It's a huge day in Morocco as the African play-offs for the 2026 World Cup kick off.

DR Congo and Cameroon on one side, Nigeria and Gabon on the other, will battle it out for the two coveted spots in the final of play-offs.

To break down the clash between the “Leopards” and the “Indomitable Lions,” Foot Africa gathered the insights of Congolese journalist Alan Basila, who shared the following thoughts.

This is a do-or-die match taking place in a unique context. Cameroon is dealing with a leadership crisis and struggling to recover its trademark fighting spirit. However, you can't underestimate these Lions, who have a knack for rising to the occasion when they're counted out—especially with their wealth of talented players and a head-to-head history that favors them against the Leopards.On the other hand, DR Congo holds a strong hand. The squad is stable, with a few new faces joining the national team. Playing away from Kinshasa also seems to unlock some of their talent. Now is the time to break the curse against this long-time nemesis and make a statement by conquering another major continental power.It’s up to coach Sébastien Desabre to find the right balance in his lineup, make smart tactical choices, and, above all, manage the game effectively.

For the record, DR Congo hasn't reached a World Cup final tournament since 1974, when the event was held in West Germany.