D.R Congo vs Uganda Prediction: D.R Congo can not lose

On the opening night of the 2023 African Nations Championship, Congo DR and Uganda will meet at the Stade 19 Mai 1956. Both squads will be looking to get back on track this weekend after losing their most recent matches.

On Wednesday, at the Stade Municipale Bou Ali-Lahouar, the Eagles of Mali defeated Congo DR by a score of 1-0 in a friendly match. Despite mounting pressure in the second half, Sebastien Desabre's team ultimately succumbed to a Makan Samabaly goal scored in the 19th minute. The Leopards had previously beaten Libya and Sierra Leone convincingly by a total score of 6-1, so this loss snapped their winning streak. The next opponent is a formidable group that has lost only once in the previous four contests between the two squads. With Ivory Coast and Senegal on the horizon, the Congo DR needed to make an early statement if they were going to have any chance of becoming the first team to win three consecutive CHAN titles.

Uganda's preseason match against Mali finished in a scoreless draw on Monday afternoon, so both teams took home a point. Milutin Sredojevic's squad was under pressure for the majority of the game, but they were able to hang on for a victory thanks in large part to the work of their goalkeeper. As a result, the Cranes have won their last six matches in succession in all competitions, losing only a 1-0 heartbreaker to Tanzania back in September. Uganda knows that a successful start at this year's African Nations Championship would provide the best platform to build upon after five consecutive group-stage exits.

Recent meetings these two teams suggest a low-scoring game with minimal play in the goal areas at either end. However, I think the Congo DR will be able to pull off the victory in the final minute of the game.