The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda will face each other in a friendly match behind closed doors on Friday at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. The match, confirmed by the Congolese Football Association (FECOFA), promises to be an interesting encounter for both teams, which made strong starts to their respective opening two rounds of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The DRC, in Group E, won both of its opening matches in the campaign, defeating Equatorial Guinea (2-0) in Kinshasa and Zimbabwe (2-1) in Harare. This impressive start has boosted the confidence of the Leopards, who are looking to build on their momentum. The team's head coach, Sébastien Desabre, has announced that he will not use his regular players in the friendly match, instead giving opportunities to newcomers.
Uganda, in Group H, also had a strong start to their AFCON qualifiers, holding Tunisia to a 1-1 draw in Radès before defeating Libya 1-0 in Kampala. The Cranes will be looking to build on their positive results and test their skills against the Leopards. The match will provide both teams with valuable experience and an opportunity to assess their strengths and weaknesses.
The DRC squad currently in South Africa consists of 22 players, including Mathieu Epolo, Dimitri Bertaud, and Chancel Mbemba. Defender Henock Inonga joined the squad on Wednesday evening, while goalkeeper Nathan Ndibu arrived in Pretoria on Thursday morning. The team has been preparing for the match with an official pre-match training session.
The friendly match is part of the DRC's preparations for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers. The team will face Uganda again on October 5, 2026, in South Africa, for a second international friendly. These matches will provide the Leopards with crucial experience and exposure as they look to make a strong impression in the qualifiers.
The decision to play the match behind closed doors was made by the relevant authorities, although the reasons for this decision have not been disclosed. The match will still provide both teams with a valuable opportunity to test their skills and build on their momentum ahead of the AFCON qualifiers.
The Leopards and Cranes are set to face each other in an exciting friendly match on Friday. With both teams having made strong starts to their AFCON qualifiers, the match promises to be an entertaining encounter. The DRC will be looking to build on their impressive start, while Uganda will be seeking to continue their positive momentum.
Key points
- The match will be played behind closed doors at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
- The DRC and Uganda have made strong starts to their respective AFCON qualifiers.
- The match will provide both teams with valuable experience and an opportunity to assess their strengths and weaknesses.
