While the anticipation builds for the upcoming AFCON 2023 Group F fixture between DR Congo and Zambia, questions rise who is the real favorite of the upcoming clash that will take place on January 17 and will Patson Daka lead his team to victory?
If we give it all to numbers, The Opta supercomputer’s prediction gives DR Congo the edge, forecasting a 43% likelihood of a Leopards victory in the pre-match simulations. Despite the odds, Zambia, led by veteran coach Avram Grant, enters the competition with determination, aiming to make a mark after their last AFCON triumph in 2012.
This encounter marks the fourth meeting between the two teams in the Africa Cup of Nations. The last encounter in 2015 ended in a 1-1 draw, setting the stage for another gripping showdown.
Zambia’s star player, Patson Daka, who scored 42% of Zambia’s goals in the qualifiers, is expected to play a crucial role in the team’s performance. Grant, entering his third Africa Cup of Nations, brings a wealth of experience after leading Ghana to second and fourth-place finishes in 2015 and 2017, respectively. The odds provided by 1xBet that Daka will score are estimated at 6.60.
On the other hand, DR Congo, making their 20th appearance at AFCON, boasts an impressive history, winning the tournament twice in 1968 and 1974. With key players like Simon Banza, the leading scorer in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, and Yoane Wissa, who has shone in the Premier League, they are considered outsiders for the tournament’s top scorer.
Group F, which also includes 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, adds an extra layer of significance to this match, as the result could play a crucial role in determining each team’s fate in the tournament.
