Cameroon vs DR Congo
As one of the winningest nations in Africa, Cameroon should’ve already qualified for the World Cup 2026, but here they are fighting for scraps. After finishing second behind Cape Verde in Group C, Cameroon will be in a mini-tournament in the second round of the CAF qualifiers, where they will battle against DR Congo, Nigeria, and Gabon for a spot in the inter-confederation play-offs. While Nigeria will host Gabon on Thursday night, Cameroon will face a hungry DR Congo team at Al-Baris Stadium.
The Leopards have never qualified for the quadrennial showpiece but are one step closer. During the first round, Sebastien Desabre’s men finished second behind Senegal in Group B by only two points. Missing out on the World Cup would be a travesty for Cameroon, but not so much for DR Congo, who come into the mini-tournament with nothing to lose.
Talking Points
Cameroon face an Mbeumo dilemma
Manager Marc Brys will deploy his best lineup in the CAF mini-tournament to secure their tickets to the World Cup 2026. Cameroon boast one of the largest European contingents in Africa, with the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Karl Etta Eyong, Jackson Tchatchoua, and Andre Onana leading the way.
Among them, Mbeumo is the most in-form star for the Indomitable Lions. The 26-year-old forward was recently named Premier League Player of the Month for October 2025 after registering three goals and one assist in Manchester United’s three wins against Sunderland (2-0), Liverpool (2-1), and Brighton (4-2).
Because he’s such an important player, the Red Devils might be hesitant to let him play for Cameroon, especially in the upcoming AFCON. But according to reports, Mbeumo is leaving it to Manchester United and Cameroon to sort out his call-up. Well, at least he’s expected to play for his nation this international break, and he’ll lead the attack.
On the other hand, Baleba is looking to regain his form this international break as he’s off to a sluggish start with Brighton this term. The 21-year-old will certainly be eager to open his Cameroon account soon.
Wan-Bissaka gives DR Congo a huge boost
Aaron Wan-Bissaka requested to switch his international allegiance to DR Congo last August, and he made his Leopards debut during their 4-1 win against South Sudan last September. The 27-year-old is a proven Premier League player, and Wan-Bissaka certainly adds to DR Congo’s aging backline.
The West Ham United man will likely join Chancel Mbemba, Arthur Masuaku, and Axel Tuanzebe at the back against Cameroon, with Lionel Mpasi expected in goal.
Cedric Bakambu finished as DR Congo’s top scorer in the qualifiers with four goals, putting him two goals adrift of Dieumerci Mbokani in the all-time scoring list, and the Real Betis man will aim to close the gap this week. He will be tasked with shouldering the heavy load on offence, as Yoane Wissa remains out due to a knee injury.
History
Thursday marks the first competitive meeting between Cameroon and DR Congo since the 2020 African Nations Championship quarter-finals, when the Indomitable Lions beat the Leopards 2-1. However, after eliminating DR Congo, Cameroon lost 4-0 to eventual champions Morocco and settled for fourth after losing 2-0 to Guinea in the third-place match.
Overall, Cameroon and DR Congo have squared off 21 times. The former has the edge with 10 wins, while the latter has five wins and six draws. DR Congo are winless in their last nine encounters against Cameroon (L6), though none of those defeats came in the World Cup qualifiers.
Cameroon enter this clash buoyed by their strong away form, having won four of five away games this year (L1). The Indomitable Lions hold the record for the most World Cup appearances by an African nation (eight).
Betting Tip
The World Cup 2026 odds favour Cameroon in this game against DR Congo on Thursday evening. The Indomitable Lions are priced at 2.26 to win, whereas the Leopards are 3.20 underdogs, and a draw is at 2.73 in the 1X2 market.
Football fans at the Al-Barid Stadium can expect their fair share of World Cup 2026 highlights from this contest, with the hosts likely to score more goals. Besides our recommended bet, SBOTOP bettors can also add Over 1.75 at 1.90 and Total Goal 2-3 at 1.91 to the parlay. Furthermore, a Correct Score of 2-1 in favour of Cameroon – the result of their most recent meeting – could yield a robust payday of 10.50.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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