DR Congo and Benin will meet at the Africa Cup of Nations finals for the first time when they open their Group D campaigns today in Rabat, with both sides targeting an early statement in a group expected to be tightly contested.
While this is their maiden AFCON meeting, the teams crossed paths during qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Benin held DR Congo to a 1-1 draw at home before the Leopards responded with a 2-0 victory in the return fixture, as Dieumerci Mbokani scored in both encounters.
Two-time champions DR Congo arrive with deep tournament pedigree. This will be their 81st match at the AFCON finals, having lifted the trophy in 1968 and 1974, while also finishing third in 1998 and 2015. They have reached the knockout stages in five of their last six appearances, including a fourth-place finish at the 2023 edition.
Recent history, however, suggests a cautious opening. DR Congo have drawn 10 of their last 15 AFCON group matches and failed to win their opening game at the last two tournaments. All three of their group-stage fixtures in 2023 ended level, underlining a trend that has often slowed their progress.
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Under coach Sébastien Desabre, form has been encouraging. The Leopards have lost just once in their last 11 matches, winning 10, and kept four clean sheets during qualifying, with six different players on the scoresheet as they topped their group early.
Benin are making their fifth AFCON appearance and return to the finals for the first time since 2019, when they reached the quarter-finals. Yet the Cheetahs are still chasing their first AFCON victory in open play, having drawn five and lost nine of their previous 14 matches at the tournament.
Led by experienced coach Gernot Rohr, Benin qualified as runners-up behind Nigeria and again arrive with a reputation for resilience. Against a DR Congo side rich in experience and ambition, they will hope organisation and discipline can finally deliver a landmark win on the continental stage.
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