Overview:
The African Play-Offs winners will join Bolivia (CONMEBOL) and New Caledonia (the OFC), plus teams from Asia and Concacaf, at the six-nation Play-Off Tournament during the international match window from 23 to 31 March 2026.
Thursday November 13, 2025
- Al-Barid stadium, Morocco 10pm (EAT)
After missing out a direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup, DR Congo and Cameroon now have a chance to remain hopeful of a place in the final.
The two sides face off at the Al-Barid stadium on Thursday in the second of the two playoff semi-finals.
Cameroon missed out on top spot finishing four points behind Cape Verde who will make their debuts in Canada, Mexico and United States come next year.
For DR Congo finished two points behind Senegal and were hurt by that 3-2 defeat to the Lions of Teranga despite leading 2-0 in the game that changed the tide in the group.
The Indomitable Lions have qualified for the most world cups, 8 amongst the African nations and will hope to keep on path to the ninth finals.
Despite that, now they have to go through a long route but first, beat DR Congo who have not been at the world cup since 1974, then either of Gabon or Nigeria in the final before going to the Intercontinental play offs.
The African Play-Offs winners will join Bolivia (CONMEBOL) and New Caledonia (the OFC), plus teams from Asia and Concacaf, at the six-nation Play-Off Tournament during the international match window from 23 to 31 March 2026.
Team News
Marc Brys named a 27-man squad and will hope Manchester United on loan goalkeeper Andre Onana, Bryan Mbeumo, Napoli’s Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa, Vincente Aboubakar and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba show up in lethal form.
For DR Congo and Sebastien Desabre, Yoane Wissa is out injured since September when he was stretchered off against Senegal.
Goalkeeper Dimitri Bertaud, defender Dylan Batubinsika, midfielder Grady Diangana and strikers Jackson Muleka and Afimico Pululu are among those absent from the previous international break.
Forward Cedric Bakambu will need the line but the defensive core of Arthur Masuaku, Chancel Mbemba, Axel Tuanzebe and Aaron Wan-Bissaka will marshal the backline.
Key Stats
- Cameroon is unbeaten against DR Congo in the past nine meetings [W6, D3] in all competitions besides world cup qualifiers.
- However, there have met nine times in the world cup qualifiers with Cameroon edging it with four wins [L3, D2]
Probable line ups:
Cameroon: A Onana (GK), Tchatchoua, Castelletto, Nouhou, Nagida; Avom, Baleba, Anguissa; Nkoudou, Eyong, Mbeumo
Congo DR: Mpasi (GK), Masuaku, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Wan-Bissaka; Mbuku, Moutoussamy, Mukau, Kayembe; Essende, Bakambu