Mauritania is set to take on DR Congo on Tuesday, March 25, in a crucial Group B encounter in the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mauritania have endured a tough World Cup qualifying campaign, failing to secure a victory in their last 13 qualifiers since their emphatic 4-0 win over South Sudan in October 2015.
Historically, their struggles in World Cup qualification are evident, having won just two of their 29 matches in the competition.
DR Congo, on the other hand, has been far more consistent, losing only three of their last 16 World Cup qualifiers. The Leopards have also found the back of the net in 20 of their last 22 qualifiers, highlighting their attacking prowess.
Recent form further favours them, with seven wins in their last ten international matches.
In Group B, Mauritania remain winless after five matches, drawing twice and losing three times. Meanwhile, DR Congo sit just one point behind group leaders Sudan, having edged past South Sudan 1-0 in their last outing thanks to Theo Bongonda’s first-half stoppage-time strike.
Mauritania’s most recent match saw them fight back twice to earn a dramatic 2-2 draw against Togo. While they have shown improvement in recent years, they face a daunting challenge against a DR Congo side determined to book their first World Cup appearance since their 1974 campaign as Zaire.
Prediction:
DR Congo heads into tonight’s fixture as the favourite to win the contest. Second in Group B with 10 points, DR Congo has opened an eight-point gap over Mauritania in second.
An emphatic 3-0 win for DR Congo looks likely but won’t be easy. The match against Mauritania is scheduled to kick off at 21:00 GMT.
