DR Congo has had a frustrating start to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with the Leopards struggling to find momentum. After being held to a 0-0 draw at home by Gabon in their opening match at Kinshasa’s Stade des Martyrs, the team traveled to Banjul for their second match against Gambia, hoping to bounce back.
The encounter with the Scorpions proved difficult, as DR Congo twice took the lead but could not maintain it, ultimately settling for a 2-2 draw. Cédric Bakambu opened the scoring for the Leopards, followed by a second-half strike from Jackson Muleka. However, Gambia fought back, with Pa Modou Jagne and Baboucarr Jobe netting goals to secure a share of the points. The result denied DR Congo a much-needed victory and left them with just two points from their first two games.
As a result, DR Congo finds itself in a precarious third place in Group D, two points behind joint leaders Gabon and Gambia. The early struggles highlight defensive lapses and difficulties in closing out matches, raising concerns about the Leopards’ ability to qualify for the tournament. Christian Nsengi Biembe’s squad will need to regroup and perform more consistently in the remaining qualifiers to improve their standing and keep their hopes of reaching the Africa Cup of Nations alive.
