A key absentee for the Leopards ahead of the clash with Sudan

The race for the top spot in Group B of the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup is heating up, with a tight battle between Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Leopards boosted their chances of direct qualification by securing a 1-0 victory over Togo last Friday in Lomé, during the penultimate matchday. The decisive goal was scored by Real Betis striker Cédric Bakambu in the 7th minute with a powerful strike, bringing Congo's point tally to 19, just behind leaders Senegal who sit on 21 points.

To guarantee direct qualification, the Leopards must defeat Sudan in the final round and hope for a Senegal loss against Mauritania.

Bakambu to miss DR Congo–Sudan showdown

Cédric Bakambu, 34, will miss the crucial match against Sudan due to an accumulation of yellow cards. He received his first booking against Mauritania and a second against Togo, making him ineligible for the final game.

Despite his absence, Bakambu showed his support for the team on social media: "Together until the end."

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Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.