DR Congo v Equatorial Guinea: kick-off time, TV channel and latest team news

DR Congo begin their Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying campaign at home to Equatorial Guinea on Thursday, 24 September, with uncertainty still surrounding whether supporters will be allowed into the Stade des Martyrs de Kinshasa.

The stadium has recently received partial approval from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), but the accreditation does not currently cover its stands. DR Congo hope to play in front of 80 000 supporters, although the match is presently expected to be held behind closed doors unless there is a late change.

Kick-off is scheduled for 17h Kinshasa time (GMT+1), which is 18h in France. RTNC is expected to show the match in DR Congo, while viewers in France can watch on beIN Sports 2. Canal+ will broadcast the game across much of French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa, with beIN Sports Mena showing it in North Africa.

DR Congo go into the opening round of qualifying with confidence boosted by their recent results. The Leopards have just completed a historic World Cup 2026 campaign, reaching the last 16 for the first time before losing 1-2 to England in a closely contested tie.

Equatorial Guinea arrive in less impressive form. Nzalang Nacional lost all three of their group matches at the most recent Africa Cup of Nations, against Burkina Faso, Sudan and Algeria. They are also without an official victory in six matches, five of which ended in defeat.

DR Congo manager Sebastien Desabre has retained a core group from the World Cup, including Wissa, Mbemba and Sadiki, while using the international break to introduce 14 new players across two separate squads. Some of those changes apply only to the friendly matches against Uganda and will not feature in the opening two Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers against Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe.

Defenders Kevin Pedro, Jordy Makengo and Willy Kambwala could make their first appearances for the national team on Thursday. Ezechiel Banzuzi, the RB Leipzig player, is also in contention for a debut.

However, DR Congo will be without goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who is seriously injured, and Cedric Bakambu, who has been left with his new club, San Diego FC. Noah Mbamba of Lorient and Stanis Idumbo of Monaco have also been ruled out by injury, meaning both must wait for their international debuts.

Equatorial Guinea face their own selection problems, with Emilio Nsue and Iban Salvador among the significant absentees.

The last meeting between the two sides came at the Africa Cup of Nations 2015, when DR Congo won a penalty shoot-out to claim the bronze medal.