MATCH FACTS: Morocco host DR Congo in second Group A fixture on Wednesday

Democratic Republic of Congo and Morocco will meet for the second time at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in a Group A clash at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat on Wednesday (kick-off 20:00 local time / 19:00 GMT).

The teams first met at the WAFCON finals in 1998, playing to a 0-0 draw in their final group game on 17 October in Kaduna, Nigeria.

In that match, both sides had won one and lost one of their previous group games. The draw suited DR Congo, who advanced as group runners-up alongside Nigeria.

This will be DR Congo's third match against North African opponents at WAFCON. They previously drew with Morocco (1998) and defeated Egypt 4-1 (1998).

It is also Morocco’s third match against Central African opposition, with a previous record of a 4-1 loss to Cameroon in 2000 (D1 L1).

Naomie Nsalala (DRC) and Ibtissam Jraidi (Morocco) are club teammates at Al Ahly (Saudi Arabia), while Eva Sumo (DRC) and Imane Saoud (Morocco) play together at Nantes (France).

DRC face a WAFCON host nation for the third time, having previously lost 6-0 to Nigeria (1998) and Equatorial Guinea (2012) — both in group-stage matches.

Morocco – Key Facts:

·       Began their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Zambia.

·       Have now gone three games without a win in open play at WAFCON finals (D2 L1).

·       Their draw against Zambia was their first group stage draw since 1998, also against DR Congo.

·       It was only their second draw in 10 group games at the finals (W4 L4).

·       The draw marked the first time Morocco failed to win a group game as WAFCON hosts; they won all three in 2022.

·       Morocco’s second group game record: P3 W2 L1.

·       Their previous three second group games have produced 15 total goals (5 per match) — scoring 7 and conceding 8.

·       Morocco are yet to keep a clean sheet in their second group match at the finals.

·       If Morocco fail to win, they would become the first host nation since South Africa in 2004 not to win one of their first two matches.

·       Morocco have conceded in each of their last four WAFCON games; their last clean sheet was a 1-0 win over Senegal in the 2022 group stage.

·       Ibtissam Jraidi scored from the penalty spot vs Zambia, Morocco's fourth penalty goal in their last two WAFCONs.

·       Ghizlane Chebbak equalized to make it 2-2 vs Zambia; she has now scored four WAFCON goals, all in group games (three in 2022).

·       Chebbak had 86 touches in the Zambia match — the most by any player.

·       Morocco had 68.7% possession and completed 358 passes to Zambia’s 126.

·       Aziza Er-Rabbah completed 58 passes (95.1% accuracy), the most of any player.

·       Goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi made four saves, her most in a single WAFCON match, and played her 7th WAFCON game.

DR Congo – Key Facts:

·       Opened their campaign with a 4-0 defeat to Senegal.

·       Are on a three-match losing streak at the finals — their last win came in 2012 vs Senegal.

·       Have conceded 14 goals and scored just once across their last three WAFCON matches.

·       DRC have never won their second group game. They lost 6-0 to Nigeria in 1998, lost 3-2 to Mali in 2006 and lost 6-0 to Equatorial Guinea in 2012.

·       Overall WAFCON record: 12 games – W2 D3 L7.

·       Their loss to Senegal marked the fourth time they’ve conceded 4+ goals in a WAFCON match.

·       Failed to register a shot on target in the first half vs Senegal; managed four in the second half.

·       Goalkeeper Fideline Ngoy faced 8 shots, conceding 4 of 6 in the first half and saving both efforts in the second half.

·       If DRC lose to Morocco, it will be the first time they’ve lost both of their opening two matches at a WAFCON finals.