AFCON 2023: African newbies fight for reckoning as Syli Nationals of Guinea face a tricky tie against Leopards of Congo DR

Posted : 01 February 2024

As Africa eagerly searches for a new football champion, two underdog teams, the Syli Nationals of Guinea and the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo, will vie for a spot in the semi-finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote D'Ivoire.

It is almost certain that, in the intense clash between Guinea's Syli National and DR Congo's Leopards at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, one of these underdog teams will secure a place in the semi-finals, reshaping the landscape of African football.

Intriguingly, none of the top five favorites to win AFCON remains in the competition, except for Nigeria, ranked 6th as favorites.

Having faced each other in three previous AFCON encounters, DR Congo and Guinea are familiar opponents, with their past three group stage meetings resulting in one win each and a draw.

DR Congo and Guinea last met in an AFCON match during the 2004 group stage, where the National Elephants came from behind to win 2-1. DR Congo is entering their first quarter-final since 2017 and last reached the semi-finals in 2015.

Guinea has won two out of four matches at AFCON 2023, marking a significant improvement from their previous 13 games in the competition. DR Congo has drawn their last five AFCON games, showcasing resilience in knockout matches.

Mohamed Bayo, with two goals at AFCON 2023, could become the first Guinea player to score three goals in a single edition since Pascal Feindouno in 2006. Meschack Elia has been instrumental for DR Congo, directly involved in three of their last four goals.

Although both teams were not expected to be serious contenders, one of them will reach the final four after the quarter-final clash. Guinea advanced as the highest-ranked third-place team, defeating Equatorial Guinea in the round of 16 with Mohamed Bayo's late goal.

DR Congo secured their place in the quarter-finals with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Egypt. Despite drawing their last five AFCON games, DR Congo is resilient, while Guinea, with fewer shots, has demonstrated defensive prowess in the tournament.

The upcoming match promises to be a closely contested battle between two unexpected contenders for AFCON glory.

AFCON 2023: African newbies fight for reckoning as Syli Nationals of Guinea face a tricky tie against Leopards of Congo DR

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