Preview: Botswana Faces DR Congo in Crucial Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier

GABORONE, Botswana (Interstat) — Botswana’s national football team will host DR Congo in a critical Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, facing a formidable opponent riding a wave of positive results.

The match, organized under the auspices of the Confederation of African Football for the continental championship, presents a stark challenge for the home side. According to Interstat’s game simulator, DR Congo is projected to win decisively with a final score of 3-0.

DR Congo enters the contest with significant momentum, having secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw against powerhouse Senegal in Kinshasa just three days prior, on Saturday, Dec. 27. That result extended their unbeaten run to six matches across all competitions.

The Congolese side has been consistently difficult to beat in recent months. Their current form includes a 1-0 home victory over Benin on Dec. 23, a 1-1 draw at Nigeria in November, and a notable 1-0 away win against Cameroon. Their last defeat was a 3-2 home loss to Senegal back in September.

In contrast, Botswana seeks to regain its footing. The Zebras’ most recent outing was a 2-2 draw away to Guinea on Oct. 14. However, that result was preceded by a 1-0 home loss to Uganda on Oct. 9 and a 2-0 defeat in Mozambique in September. The team has not played a competitive match in over two months.

The scheduling presents a potential physical advantage for Botswana, as DR Congo will be playing its second high-stakes match in a four-day span following the Senegal clash. Botswana will need to exploit any fatigue and defend resolutely to disrupt the visitors’ rhythm and defy the statistical projections.

A positive result for Botswana would provide a major boost in their qualifying campaign, while DR Congo aims to solidify its position at the top of the group table with another away performance showcasing its defensive solidity and attacking threat.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. local time at the National Stadium in Gaborone.