DR Congo – Equatorial Guinea: here is the match referee

24.09.26 FT AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations

DR Congo

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Equatorial Guinea

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Nigerian referee Joseph Odey Ogabor has been appointed to officiate the match between DR Congo and Equatorial Guinea. The two national teams will face each other this Thursday, September 24, in their first match of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.

A new international appointment

Joseph Odey Ogabor will be responsible for officiating this Group E match and ensuring that the Laws of the Game are respected. This appointment represents another international experience for the Nigerian referee, who will officiate one of the opening matches of the qualifying campaign for the next Africa Cup of Nations.

This fixture will be DR Congo’s first match in this qualifying campaign. The Congolese side will play at home with the aim of taking all three points, while Equatorial Guinea will also be looking to make a strong start in this four-team group.

Desabre wants a focused DR Congo

Ahead of the match, Leopards head coach Sébastien Desabre stressed the need to remain focused despite his team’s performance at the 2026 World Cup:

Tomorrow’s match, like all African matches, will be completely different from what we did at the World Cup. We must not lack humility.

Desabre also clearly set out his team’s objective for this opening day.

In any case, we have to win. We must come together, concentrate as much as possible and create plenty of competition within the squad, with a steely mentality throughout the team.

The match is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa. For DR Congo, this fixture should above all provide an opportunity to launch the qualifying campaign with a victory.

Aliou Toundé |

Editorfr

Related teams and leagues

DR Congo

Equatorial Guinea

AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations