MATCH FACTS: CAR, DR Congo seek first wins at TotalEnergies CAF U20 AFCON, Egypt 2025

Central African Republic (CAR) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) face off in a Central African derby in the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations at the Suez Stadium on Monday (kick-off 18:00 local time / 15:00 GMT).

Both teams opened their campaigns with 1-1 draws. CAR came from behind to earn a point against defending champions Senegal, with Diogene Pengazonia equalizing in the 74th minute. Meanwhile, DRC also drew 1-1 with Ghana, taking the lead in the 16th minute through Ntanda-Lukisa before conceding in the 24th minute.

This match marks CAR’s second meeting with a fellow UNIFFAC nation at the finals. They previously drew 0-0 with Congo in their final group game in 2023. DRC have also faced another Central African side once before, drawing 0-0 with Gabon in their tournament opener in 2013.

In terms of physical performance, CAR won 32 duels against Senegal and completed five dribbles. DRC were more dominant in these areas against Ghana, winning 78 duels and completing 18 dribbles. Tonny Talasi won 14 duels – joint-most in the match – while Jules Ahoka completed 30 passes, the highest for DRC.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC FACTS
·       CAR’s 1-1 draw with Senegal marked the first time they avoided defeat after conceding first at the finals.

·       Previously, they had lost both games in which they fell behind – against Uganda and South Sudan in 2023. In 2021, CAR had scored first in all three group games, recording one win, one draw, and one loss.

·       In both of their prior tournament appearances (2021 and 2023), CAR lost their second group game. A 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso in 2021 was followed by a 2-1 defeat, and a 2-1 loss to Uganda in 2023 preceded a 1-0 loss to South Sudan.

·       CAR are winless in their last five matches at the finals (D2 L3). They have faced nine different nations at this level, with DRC becoming their 10th opponent. Their only win at the U20 AFCON came in 2021 – a 2-1 victory over Tunisia.

·       If CAR avoid defeat, it would be the first time they’ve gone unbeaten in their opening two games at the finals.

·       They scored with their only shot on target against Senegal, despite having just 33.6% possession – their second lowest on record at the finals.

·       Their lowest recorded possession was 31.7% in the 2021 win over Tunisia. They also had 35.8% possession in a 3-1 loss to Burkina Faso in 2021.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO FACTS
·       DRC remain winless at the U20 Africa Cup of Nations, with four draws and two losses across their appearances.

·       They have always opened with a draw: 2-2 in 1989, 0-0 against Gabon in 2013, and 1-1 against Ghana in 2025.

·       They have now conceded at least once in each of their last three games at the finals. Each of those matches came against West African opposition – Mali and Nigeria in 2013, and Ghana in this tournament.

·       Their final group match will be against Senegal, another West African former champion.

·       This match against CAR is only their third at the finals against a team from outside the West African region.

·       In their only other second group game in a single-tournament format, DRC lost 2-1 to Mali in 2013.