By Tapiwa Chawagarira
ZIMBABWE and the Democratic Republic of Congo will renew their long-standing rivalry on Monday, with both sides looking to maintain their winning starts to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The Warriors made a dramatic start to their Group E campaign yesterday, coming back from two goals down to beat Sierra Leone 3-2 in El Jadida, Morocco, while DR Congo began their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea in Kinshasa.
Zimbabwe seemed destined for a disappointing start after Sierra Leone established a 2-0 lead at halftime through Alie Conteh and Sallieu Tarawallie. Still, Marshall Munetsi sparked a remarkable comeback with a 72nd-minute goal.
Tawanda Chirewa levelled the contest four minutes later before Munetsi completed his brace in the 88th minute to give the Warriors all three points.
Meanwhile, DR Congo were comfortable winners against Equatorial Guinea, with captain Chancel Mbemba opening the scoring after just four minutes and Yoane Wissa sealing the victory in the 72nd minute.
The results leave both Zimbabwe and DR Congo on three points heading into Monday’s encounter at the National Sports Stadium, adding further significance to the meeting.
CAF has scheduled the Zimbabwe-DR Congo clash for 6 pm CAT on September 28.
With Group E comprising Zimbabwe, DR Congo, Sierra Leone, and Equatorial Guinea, early points could prove valuable in what is expected to be a closely contested qualifying campaign. The top two teams in groups without an automatically qualified co-host will secure places at the finals in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The Warriors and Leopards have a rivalry stretching back more than two decades, with their most recent competitive meeting coming at the 2019 AFCON finals in Egypt.
According to 11v11 records, the two nations have met five times in recorded head-to-head matches, with Zimbabwe winning twice, drawing once, and losing twice.
Their first meeting in this sequence came on September 3, 2000, when Zimbabwe edged DR Congo 3-2 in an AFCON qualifier. DR Congo responded with a 2-1 victory in the return fixture in June 2001.
The rivalry resumed during the 2019 AFCON qualifying campaign, when Zimbabwe produced a memorable 2-1 victory over DR Congo in Kinshasa on October 13, 2018.
Three days later, the two sides drew 1-1 in Harare, with the Warriors taking a point at the National Sports Stadium.
However, the most recent encounter remains a painful memory for Zimbabwe. At the 2019 AFCON finals, DR Congo thrashed the Warriors 4-0 on June 30, recording the largest victory in the five-match head-to-head history.
Monday’s meeting therefore offers Zimbabwe another opportunity to rewrite the narrative against the Leopards, this time with both teams arriving in Harare having already secured maximum points.
The current FIFA rankings also highlight the contrast between the two teams, with DR Congo ranked considerably higher than Zimbabwe in the latest official men’s rankings.
The Leopards also enter the contest with considerable international experience and will be buoyed by their 2-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea, while Zimbabwe carry the confidence of a remarkable comeback against Sierra Leone.
For Warriors coach Ramon Catalá, Monday’s fixture will represent another major test in his early competitive tenure with the national team.
The Spaniard’s side showed considerable character in recovering from a two-goal deficit in the opening match, but DR Congo are likely to provide a different challenge given their own winning start and the quality within their squad.
The National Sports Stadium has also been the scene of memorable encounters between the two nations, with the last competitive meeting there ending in a 1-1 draw in October 2018.
With both teams sitting on three points after the opening round, Monday’s clash could provide an early indication of how the Group E race is beginning to take shape.
For the Warriors, the immediate task will be to build on yesterday’s dramatic comeback. At the same time, DR Congo will seek to continue the momentum generated by their clean-sheet victory over Equatorial Guinea.
The stage is therefore set for another chapter in a rivalry that has already produced dramatic victories, draws, and painful defeats—this time with both sides entering the contest knowing that victory would give them a strong early position in the race for the 2027 AFCON finals.
