Match Overview

South Sudan’s national team will host DR Congo, the Group B leader, in Juba. It seems the underdog has little chance even on home turf.

Historical Performance and Odds

Indeed, the hosts have accumulated very few points—three in six rounds. However, South Sudan surprisingly lost by a narrow margin (0-1) to the top team in their sextet. This was particularly surprising as the match took place in Kinshasa, where DR Congo’s victory was valued at an average odds of 1.12. This suggests they were not far from a draw, which was then rated much higher at 7.85. Currently, the betting gap has narrowed slightly, but even a draw would still be considered a significant surprise (with odds close to 4.00).

World Cup Qualification Struggle

DR Congo is engaged in a fierce battle with Sudan and Senegal for the sole direct qualification spot for the 2026 World Cup. Senegal, currently in second place, is naturally considered the favorite in this race. The Congolese last and only appeared at a World Cup in 1974. In August, Sébastien Desabre’s team tested their strength at the African Nations Championship, but failed to advance from their group, winning and losing two matches each.

Prediction Summary

They defeated another group underdog, Mauritania, away (2-0), indicating that DR Congo’s players possess enough strength and skill to overcome South Sudan. I am predicting a victory, but not by a very large margin.