Leopards out to sign off with Walia Ibex win

DR Congo will lock horns with Ethiopia in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualification Group H match at the Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte on Tuesday.

Kick-off is at 6pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

The Leopards are licking their wounds after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Guinea away on 16 November and the defeat ended their seven-match unbeaten run across all competitions in regulation time.

DR Congo, who have already qualified for the Afcon finals, are placed at the top of the Group H standings - three points clear of second-placed Guinea and avoiding a defeat against Ethiopia would see the Leopards win the group.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia are also wounded after succumbing to a 2-0 defeat to Tanzania at home on 16 November and they are now winless in their last seven matches across all competitions.

Walia Ibex have already been eliminated having collected just one point from five Group H matches and they will be hoping to end a disappointing campaign a win over Congo which would see them finish fourth in the group.

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Dylan Batubinsika missed DR Congo's match against Guinea due to a muscle injury, but the Saint-Etienne defender is expected to be available for selection when they face Walia Ibex.

Ethiopia, on the other hand, will still be without one of their star forwards, Abubeker Nasir, as the SuperSport United forward is yet to regain his match fitness.

WHAT WAS SAID?

DR Congo head coach Sebastien Desabre

"We have to accept the sentence and work harder to win the next match. We had a much worse match offensively than the other matches," Desabre said after the defeat to Guinea.

"We are working calmly to improve from match to match because we have objectives. We cannot show a lack of humility because we have a lot of points to work on."

Ethiopia's interim coach Mesay Teferi

"We tried but we could not withstand the fast wave of Stars. However, I am grateful for the efforts of my players," Teferi said after his side's defeat to Tanzania.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

DR Congo and Ethiopia have met seven times across all competitions. The Leopards have won five matches compared to Walia Ibex's one victory, while one game ended in a draw.

The last time the two teams met Congo claimed a 2-0 win over Ethiopia in the 2025 Afcon qualifier played in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on 9 September.