Charles Pickel and his DR Congo teammates are preparing to face Mali in what promises to be an intriguing international friendly match on June 5, 2025. The midfielder, who scored in DR Congo's last outing, will be looking to maintain his form against a disciplined Mali side.
Both nations enter this friendly with recent clean sheet performances in their World Cup qualification campaigns. DR Congo defeated Mauritania 2-0 in their previous fixture, with Pickel finding the net in the third minute before Fiston Mayele sealed the victory with a late goal.
"We've been working hard to maintain our defensive solidity while improving our attacking options," a team spokesperson might say ahead of this important preparation match.
Interestingly, DR Congo's recent matches have frequently featured one team failing to score. In five of their last six games, at least one side has kept a clean sheet—a pattern that could continue against Mali.
Meanwhile, Mali comes into this fixture following a goalless draw against Central Africa in their World Cup qualifier. The Eagles have shown impressive defensive organization lately, with five of their last six matches seeing at least one team fail to score. During this stretch, Mali has netted eight goals while conceding just two.
According to match analysts, Mali might have the edge in this encounter. The prediction suggests a tight contest with Mali potentially securing a narrow 1-0 victory. This friendly represents an important opportunity for both teams to fine-tune their tactics ahead of more competitive fixtures.
Will DR Congo's attacking duo of Pickel and Mayele break through Mali's stubborn defense? Or will the Eagles continue their impressive defensive record? Thursday's clash should provide some answers.
