Rafael Nogueira
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Zimbabwe and D.R. Congo sit level on three points after matchday one of Group E, separated only by goal difference. Zimbabwe scraped past Sierra Leone 3-2 in an open, chaotic away win, while D.R. Congo kept a clean sheet against Equatorial Guinea. The contrast in styles, one side leaking goals while scoring freely, the other tighter and more controlled, sets up an intriguing tactical puzzle for this Group E clash.
Marshall Munetsi is the man to watch for Zimbabwe after a two-goal display last time out, and his link-up play through midfield will be key against a disciplined D.R. Congo back line. Chancel Mbemba offers the same threat at the other end, a defender who scored and completed 51 of 57 passes in the win over Equatorial Guinea, giving D.R. Congo an outlet from deep as well as a set-piece weapon.
Hot stat: Munetsi’s brace against Sierra Leone made up two of Zimbabwe’s three goals in that game, from five shots and three free kicks taken, the busiest individual attacking output logged by either squad in their Group E opener.
| 🏆 Tournament: | Africa Cup of Nations 2027 Qualifier, Group E |
| 🗓️ Date: | 28.09.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 18:00 CEST |
Zimbabwe vs D.R. Congo prediction
We lean toward a draw as the best value here. Both sides sit on three points, both won their openers by narrow-to-comfortable margins, and neither has shown enough in this qualifying cycle to be backed with confidence on the road. Zimbabwe’s 3-2 win carried plenty of defensive risk, conceding twice at home to Sierra Leone, while D.R. Congo’s control-based approach, built on 91.7% pass accuracy in their last outing compared to Zimbabwe’s 85.9%, suggests they can dictate tempo without necessarily forcing the win.
Fouls also tell a story: D.R. Congo committed 17 fouls in their last five-match sample against Zimbabwe’s 12, hinting at a more physical, disruptive approach that could slow Zimbabwe’s transition play. With four yellow cards combined between the two sides recently and both teams generating four corners apiece in their prior matches, expect a scrappy, cagey affair rather than a free-flowing one. Zimbabwe’s home comfort and attacking output edge them into a slight favourite tag, but D.R. Congo’s superior group position on goal difference gives them little incentive to gamble.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | Half-Time/Full-Time Draw/Zimbabwe |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Over 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | Yes |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 9.5 |
Team Analysis
Zimbabwe arrive on the back of four wins from their last five matches, a run built on scoring goals rather than shutting teams out. The 3-2 win over Sierra Leone fits that pattern exactly: Munetsi’s double and a Tawanda Chirewa strike got them over the line, but conceding twice at home shows a defense still prone to lapses under Ramón Catalá. Earlier results against Nigeria and India were mixed, a 0-2 loss to Nigeria followed by a tight 1-0 win over India, suggesting Zimbabwe perform better against sides they can dominate territorially rather than elite opposition. In our preview of Sierra Leone vs Zimbabwe we called a narrow away win or draw with goals hard to come by on both sides, and the 3-2 result partly delivered, Zimbabwe did edge it away from home, though five goals flowed more freely than our low-scoring lean suggested.
D.R. Congo’s form is choppier, four wins from ten matches this year, but their most recent form has picked up. The 2-0 win over Equatorial Guinea, with Mbemba scoring and the side completing over 91% of passes, showed the control Sébastien Desabre wants from his group. Before that, tougher tests against England (1-2) and Colombia (0-1) exposed some fragility against sharper attacking sides, though a battling 1-1 draw with Portugal and a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan show they can compete when the tempo suits them. The clean sheet against Equatorial Guinea is the more relevant marker heading into this fixture, given Zimbabwe’s similar defensive profile.
Most recent Head-to-Head Matches
Zimbabwe and D.R. Congo have no recent competitive meetings on record between these two national sides, making this qualifier a fresh test with no historical pattern to lean on.
🚨Check out our dedicated Zimbabwe vs D.R. Congo stats page for more info.
D.R. Congo. Source: Official Facebook
Possible Starting Lineups
Zimbabwe possible starting eleven
- GK: Elvis Chipezeze
- DF: Munashe Garananga, Shane Maroodza, Sean Fusire, Divine Lunga
- MF: Marshall Munetsi, Marvelous Nakamba, Tawanda Chirewa, Andy Rinomhota
- FW: Tawanda Maswanhise, Bill Leeroy Antonio
Catalá should stick with the 4-4-2 that produced three goals last time out. Munetsi and Chirewa were directly involved in all three goals against Sierra Leone and both keep their places in midfield, while Garananga’s 85 minutes and passing volume make him the likely defensive anchor. Maswanhise partners Antonio up top, giving Zimbabwe two runners to stretch the D.R. Congo back three.
D.R. Congo possible starting eleven
- GK: Matthieu Epolo
- DF: Chancel Mbemba, Gedeon Kalulu, Steve Kapuadi
- MF: Noah Sadiki, Edo Kayembe, Aaron Tshibola
- FW: Junior Kadile, Afimico Pululu
Epolo’s two saves and 90 minutes against Equatorial Guinea confirm him as first-choice keeper, with Mbemba the standout defender after his goal and near 90% pass accuracy. Sadiki’s two interceptions in the same game keep him nailed in midfield alongside Kayembe. Desabre’s nominal 4-4-2 leaves a couple of wide roles unconfirmed by the data, but Kadile and Pululu remain the front-line options based on minutes logged.
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Zimbabwe. Source: Official Facebook
TipsGG Match Prediction
We predict a tight, low-margin contest that mirrors both sides’ opening results. Zimbabwe’s attacking edge at home, four wins in five matches and a proven ability to find the net, should get them a goal or two, but D.R. Congo’s tighter structure and superior passing control make a clean home win unlikely. Perhaps the smartest read is a draw or a slender Zimbabwe win, with goals at both ends given how often both defenses have been breached recently. To be hones, neither side has shown the composure to shut out a motivated opponent in Group E, and that trend should continue here.
Read also: Zimbabwe vs Democratic Republic of the Congo Head-to-Head: Record, Stats & Form as of 27 Sep 2026
Read also: Zimbabwe vs Democratic Republic of the Congo Predicted Line-ups and Team News: Both Expected XIs
