World Cup playoffs: Injuries hit Lions’ den ahead of DRC clash today.

Ahead of today’s encounter, which analysts have described as one of the most important in the country’s footballing history, the Indomitable Lions are missing several key players to injury.

According to reports from the den, three key players have all been ruled out of the clash. The most notable absence is Andre Franck Zambo Anguissa. 

The Napoli midfielder is said to have suffered a muscle strain and left training prematurely. It is unclear for how long the player will be unavailable.

The former Fulham and Olympic Marseille player was recently named Serie A Player of The Month of October.

Anguissa starred for his team and scored three times to become the joint-top scorer of the Italian club with Kevin De Bruyne.

Joining Anguissa on the sideline is Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. The 36-year-old versatile forward has rediscovered his once imperious form with the New York Red Bulls in the Major League Soccer, MLS, in the United States of America. He is dealing with injury and will not be availble for today’s most-win match as DRC.

Reports say Choupo-Moting is dealing with a knee sprain. At press time, The Guardian Post gathered that the player had left camp.

Danny Namaso has also been ruled out of today’s game. The former French youth international, who is on loan from Portuguese club FC Porto to Ligue 1 side Auxerre, picked up an injury over the weekend in their 2-0 loss to homeside Angers.

Adding to the concerns is the situation of Andre Onana. The Indomitable Lions goalkeeper is in doubt for today’s clash.

Reports say Onana is dealing with an ankle injury. It is still unclear if he will feature in the game.

Onana has been key for the Cameroon national team in the qualifiers. He kept two-to-back clean sheets with the team in the final round of qualifiers against Mauritius Island and Angola.

The absence of these players, and the uncertainty of Onana from the squad, which many say constitute an essential spin of the team, has raised concerns about the team’s chances of defeating the DRC, to advance to the final.

DRC, whose only previous World Cup appearance was in 1974, are aiming to stun Cameroon.

According to Sport News Africa, each player from the DR Congo will receive 1 million dollars, over 566 million FCFA, in case they qualify for the Intercontinental playoffs.

Newcastle's Yoane Wissa is still absent through injury, but fellow forward Cedric Bakambu has been in good form with four goals.

The five-time African champions, Cameroon, must win today's match to advance to the final of the African playoffs and maintain hopes of qualifying for their record extending ninth World Cup appearance.

The opening match will feature Nigeria against Gabon at 17:00pm at the Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan in Rabat, Morocco.

The winner of the four-nation competition will advance to the FIFA Play-Off Inter-Continental Tournament in March 2026.

The play-offs will feature six teams, split into two brackets of three teams, with the two finalists to qualify for the World Cup to be hosted by the USA, Canada, Mexico.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3623 of Thursday November 13, 2025