Zimbabwe VS Democratic Rep Congo

Playing on their home turf grants Zimbabwe a clear competitive edge here. The side pulled off an impressive comeback in their opening qualifier, beating Sierra Leone 3-2 away from home, and their clinical finishing in that game is well worth recognizing. They currently have no sidelined players due to injury, so the full squad is available for selection. Their usual game plan relies on compact defending to fend off opponents' attacking thrusts, and they are particularly adept at creating scoring threats from set pieces. That said, their midfield lacks sufficient ability to push play forward, as most of their squad members feature in the local domestic league, leading to thin overall squad depth. When facing physically dominant opponents, their backline tends to expose obvious vulnerabilities after being under sustained pressure for long stretches. Playing at home, Zimbabwe will prioritize solidifying their defensive structure first, and hunt for goals through counterattacks and set piece opportunities.