π° Table Of Contents
Recommended bets
[RECOMMENDED_BETS]
First leg score: DR Congo 1-1 Morocco
DR Congo have never beaten Morocco away from home, losing 3-0 in 2006 and drawing 1-1 in 2020.
Under 2.5 goals is 3/5.
Under 2.5 goals and both teams to score NO is 10/11.
Morocco to win and under 2.5 goals is 15/8.
Match preview
It’s all to play for following Friday’s first leg in KinsΓ‘sΓ‘ finished all square.
However, Morocco were awarded a penalty just after half time when Samy Mmaee’s flick on struck the arm of CΓ©dric Bakambu.
Samy’s brother, Ryan Mmae, took the subsequent spot-kick, but blazed miles over the bar, much to the delight of goalkeeper JoΓ«l Kiassumbua.
However, Morocco did find their equaliser 13 minutes from time; a long ball forward was nocked down by Youssef En-Nesyri and fired in by Tarik Tissoudali.
With moments left, Ngonda Muzinga was sent off for a second bookable offence, but this proved a mere footnote as 1-1 it ended at Stade des Martyrs.
So, with the away goals rule in operation and home advantage in the second leg, Morocco a firm favourites to prevail inΒ Casablanca.
The Atlas Lions are on the verge of their sixth World Cup appearance, having ended their 20-year exile from the competition in Russia last time round.
Vahid HalilhodΕΎiΔ’s team will certainly be confident given that Morocco haven’t lost a competitive home game since defeat to Cameroon in 2009.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo meanwhile have only ever qualified for one World Cup, namely in 1974 when they were known as Zaire.
HΓ©ctor CΓΊper took Valencia to back-to-back UEFA Champions League Finals, in 2000 and 2021, and led Egypt at the last World Cup.
But, if he and his DR Congo side could overturn this tie, that would surely be up there as one of his greatest achievement.
Will Morocco finish the job at Stade Mohammed V?
Morocco team news
Vahid HalilhodΕΎiΔ switched to a 3-5-2 for the first leg and, after gaining a positive result, is likely to stick with that.
Youssef En-Nesyri hasn’t scored for club side Sevilla since September, but could keep his place up front, alongside Ryan Mmaee.
Munir El Haddadi and Sofiane Boufal, who scored a wonder goal during January’s Africa Cup of Nations, are other options.
The start of that tournament was Achraf Hakimi, netting two free-kicks, but the PSG wing-back was very quiet in the first leg of this tie.
DR Congo team news
With the away goals rule in play, DR Congo know they have to score in Casablanca.
They certainly have the firepower to do it though with Yoane Wissa, Dieumerci Mbokani andΒ CΓ©dric Bakambu leading the attack.
Left-back Ngonda Muzinga is suspended after his late red card on Friday with Vital N’Simba the natural deputy.
JoΓ«l Kiassumbua was very good in goal, despite having not played a club game since leaving Servette last May.
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