The Democratic Republic of Congo and Ghana will face off in battle for a place in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations semifinals when they meet at the Stade d’Oyem in the Gabonese city of Oyem on Sunday.
Kick-off is scheduled for 19h00 EAT.
Black Stars, runners-up to Ivory Coast in the last edition of the tournament two years ago, had already secured their place in the last eight before meeting Egypt on Wednesday.
They have yet to dazzle in the competition and injury to Asamoah Gyan could leave Avram Grant’s side without their main goal threat.
Tests have shown that the injury is not as bad as initially feared which is a great relief to coach Grant, who is already without Baba Rahman after the defender suffered a serious knee injury against Uganda.
However Coach Grant remains positive that his team will put a great shown and book a semi-finals place.
“DR Congo is a good side and I know it will be a tough game, but we will be up for it,” Grant said
Meanwhile, DR Congo have impressed in this edition of the AFCON emerging as dark horses to top group C with two wins and a draw to their credit.
In an interview with press their coach Flourent Ibenge beleives that his side is now ripe to go past group stages.
“We are done with the group stages, we have to rest. It’s been two consecutive editions in the quarterfinals. We want to go further,” Ibenge is quoted as saying.
In their squad they have the likes of Astana’s Junior Kabananga and Fulham’s Neeskens Kabano standing out in attack.
The Leopards showed what they are made of with a win over Morocco, a tough 2-2 draw with Ivory Coast and a 3-1 triumph over Togo.
The winner of Sunday’s contest are playing for a place in the last four in Franceville on 2 February. The quarter-final takes place at the Stade d’Oyem in Gabon’s Woleu-Ntem province.
Head-to-Head – Democratic Republic of Congo vs Ghana
DR Congo FIFA ranking: 49th
Ghana FIFA ranking: 54th
Matches played: 19
DR Congo wins: 4
Ghana wins: 10
Draws: 5
DR Congo goals scored: 19
Ghana goals scored: 32
