After securing their best ever AFCON finish since 1999-00 earlier this year, South Africa have made a positive start to their new qualifying campaign and currently sit second in the group, level on four points with Uganda.

Bafana Bafana kicked off their qualifying campaign with a thrilling 2-2 draw against the Cranes last month and followed that up with another nail-biting encounter against South Sudan, which they won 3-2 in the second week of the competition.

The results extended Hugo Broos' side's impressive unbeaten run in all competitions to 10 matches, a record that dates back to their AFCON semi-final defeat to Nigeria in February.

One area that Broos is keen to see his side improve upon this month is their defensive solidity, as they have kept just one clean sheet since the last AFCON (nine matches), while they conceded just twice in six matches during the tournament in Côte d'Ivoire.

Historically, matches between the two sides have been close, with three of the four previous encounters ending in a draw, while the only victory in that period went to Bafana Bafana in the qualifiers for the 2015 edition of the competition.

However, while Congo have fared relatively well in this fixture in the past, they have endured a difficult time in recent months, particularly in the run-up to this double-header.

Less than a week before the team was due to travel to Gqeberha, the Congolese Football Federation (Fecofoot) was forced to shut down, just one day before the final squad was announced.

This is just the latest blow to Congolese football in recent times - just three months ago, the team suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Niger in a World Cup qualifier in neighbouring DR Congo.

In terms of performances, the Red Devils lost 2-0 to Uganda in their last outing, but they did beat South Sudan 1-0 in the first round of qualifying, although that was their only win since they beat the same opponents in March 2023.

South Africa have received a massive injury boost ahead of this month's qualifiers, with captain Ronwen Williams returning to full fitness after missing the first two games with a shoulder injury.

However, Bafana Bafana's saviour Thalente Mbatha, who scored the equaliser against Uganda and the winner against South Sudan, both in stoppage time, has been ruled out through injury, while Stellenbosch midfielder Jayden Adams has been dropped.

As for Congo, there has been no official confirmation of the squad that will travel to southern Africa for this match, although it is reported that the team will remain unchanged from the first two rounds.

If that is the case, the Red Devils will look to the likes of Merveil Ndockyt and Young Boys striker Silvere Ganvoula to cause the hosts problems in attack, while Bryan Passi and Ryan Bidounga are likely to pair up at the back.

South Africa possible starting lineup:

Williams; Mudau, Kekana, Dortley, Modiba; Appollis, Mokoena, Aubaas, Zwane, Mofokeng; Foster

Congo possible starting lineup:

Ndzila; Andzouana, Passi, Bidounga, Poaty; Dembi, Massanga; Bassouamina, Mboungou, Ndockyt; Ganvoula

Prediction:South Africa 2-0 Congo

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