Preview: Guinea vs. Congo DR – prediction, team news, lineups

Trying to make it five wins from five in 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, DR Congo put on Guinea at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpe Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

Syli National enter the weekend just two points above third-placed Tanzania and will be chasing all three points as they look to secure their place in Morocco next year.

Match preview

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Guinea picked up three huge points in their bid for a top-two finish in Group H of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers as they cruised to a 3-0 win over Ethiopia at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpe Olympic Stadium on 15 October.

Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy grabbed his fourth and fifth goals in qualifying either side of Abdoulaye Toure‘s strike in the 19th minute to fire the visitors to a comfortable victory in Ivory Coast.

This made it two straight wins over Ethiopia for Syli National, who stormed to a 4-1 victory thanks to a first-half hat-trick from Guirassy as the two nations square off in the first of their double-header in October .

Before the victories over Ethiopia, Kaba Diawara‘s men stumbled into the qualifying campaign, losing 1-0 to Congo DR in September’s group curtain-raiser, four days before suffering a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Tanzania.

Guinea, ranked 78th in the latest FIFA world rankings, have picked up six points from a possible 12 to finish second in the Group H standings, two points above third-placed Tanzania heading into the final two games.

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On the other hand, Congo DR left it late against Tanzania in their latest AFCON qualifier as they beat Taifa Stars 2-0 when the two nations met on 15 October.

With nothing separating the two teams heading into the final three minutes of normal time, substitute Meschack Elia came on for the visitors as he scored two late goals to break Tanzanian hearts at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium.

Sebastien Desabre‘s men go into Saturday’s clash as one of only four teams with a 100% record in qualifying, winning each of their four games while scoring six goals and keeping four clean sheets so far.

Since losing on penalties to South Africa in the 2023 AFCON third-place play-off in February, the Leopards have gone six straight games without defeat across all competitions, claiming one draw and five wins, including a 1-0 win over Togo in 2026 .FIFA World Cup qualifier on 9 June.

Congo DR will be backing themselves to maintain their perfect AFCON qualification record on Saturday when they face an opponent who have lost each of their previous five encounters since February 2016.

Guinea Africa Cup of Nations qualification format:

Guinea form (all competitions):

Congo DR Africa Cup of Nations qualification form:

Congo DR form (all competitions):

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With his brace against Ethiopia last time out, Guirassy now has five goals in just two games in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers and the 28-year-old striker will look to deliver again.

He should form the attacking quartet with Francois Kamano, Seydouba Cisse and Arouca forth Morlay Syllawhile Toure and Mady Camara must form the focal point of a two-man midfield.

At the defensive end of the field, we expect Diawara to name a back four of Antoine Conte, Saidou So, Ibrahim Diakite and Montpellier’s Issiaga Syllawith 25-year-old Moussa Camara starts between the pins again.

DR Congo have called up a solid 25-man squad for November’s qualifiers against Guinea and Ethiopia, with the likes of Elia, Arthur Masuaku and skipper Chancellor Mbemba lead the team.

Elia scored twice in a 30-minute cameo to inspire Leopards to a 2-0 win over Tanzania last time out, and the Young Boys forward could be handed a starting role this weekend, alongside Theo Bongonda and 28 years old Simon Banza in attack.

Mbemba and 31 years old Henoc Baka should make up the central defensive pair, while we expect a midfield trio of Samuel Moutoussamy, Charles Pickel and Watford man Edo Kayembe.

Guinea’s possible starting line-up:
camera; A Sylla, Conte, So, Diakite; Toure, Camara; Kamano, Cisse, M Sylla; Guirassy

Congo DR possible starting line-up:
Bertaud; Masuaku, Inonga, Mbemba, Kalulu; Bertaud; Kayembe, Moutoussamy, Pickel; Mvumpa, Banza, Bongonda

We say: Guinea 2-1 Congo DR

Needing all three points to secure their place in AFCON 2025, we expect Guinea to go all out at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpe Olympic Stadium this weekend. While Congo DR are currently firing on all cylinders in the qualifiers, Syli National are much improved since both sides clashed in September and we predict they will come away with the desired result.

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