2026 World Cup qualifiers: A "Leopard" turns up the heat ahead of derby against Senegal

Congo international Simon Banza has turned up the heat just months before the big showdown with Senegal.

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Speaking to Canal+ Afrique, the Trabzonspor striker wasted no time in firing the opening shots.

We're eagerly waiting for the Senegalese. We've got some surprises in store for them... We can't wait for this match, and we'll be playing at home.

The Stade des Martyrs will set the stage on September 8 for the much-anticipated clash between the "Leopards" and the "Lions" in the 8th round of qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Leading Group B with 13 points, the Congolese squad holds a narrow one-point advantage over their Senegalese rivals.

A win in this derby could be a major step toward securing a spot at the 2026 World Cup. For the record, the "Leopards" have not reached the finals of the global tournament since the 1974 edition in Germany.

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.