KORHOGO, Ivory Coast
DR Congo national team qualified for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations last 16 as runners-up in Group F after they played out to a 0-0 draw with Tanzania at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium on Wednesday.
The Leopards advanced to the
knockout stages despite not winning any of their opening three matches in the
tournament as they finished on three points - four behind Morocco, who beat
Zambia 1-0 in the concurrent fixture at the Laurent Pokou Stadium.
A cagey first half saw the two
teams share the possession equally with 50 per cent each, although DR Congo had
by far the better chances.
Lionel Mpasi wasn't required
to make a single save before halftime as Simon Msuva fired well wide of the
target from range on six minutes and Mbwana Samatta skied his effort from
inside the box on the left nine minutes later.
The Leopards' best chance
arrived around the 25-minute mark on the counter when Yoane Wissa skipped past
a couple of players inside the penalty before shooting straight at Aishi
Manula.
Fiston Mayele had a decent
sniff at goal on the half-hour mark after latching onto Gael Kakuta's
defence-splitting pass, but Manula raced off his line to block the striker's
toe-poke.
Samuel Moutoussamy lacked
composure when he blasted a shot well over the crossbar from inside the box
after receiving the ball from Mayele in the 35th minute.
The second half was
particularly dire as Tanzania offered nothing in attack, while DR Congo
fashioned very little themselves.
Meschack Elia got well under
the ball with a strike from inside the box that sailed high over the goal on 73
minutes, although Wissa managed to produce a save out of Manula five minutes
later when the keeper was caught off his line, but got back to push the chipped
effort away from danger.
Wissa had an opportunity to
snatch victory five minutes from time after gathering the ball from a corner,
although his shot from inside the box flew inches over the bar.
Tanzania: A.
Manula, L. Mwaikenda, B. Mwamnyeto, I. Hamad, M. Hussein, N. Miroshi, H. Mnoga,
H. Mao (M. Yassin 71'), F. Salum (K. Denis 79'), S. Msuva (M. Abraham 86'), M.
Samatta (C. M'Mombwa 86').
DR Congo: L.
Mpasi, G. Kalulu, C. Mbemba, D. Batubinsika, A. Masuaku, C. Pickel (A. Tshibola
68'), S. Moutoussamy, S. Katompa Mvumpa (M. Elia 53'), G. Kakuta (O. Mfulu
87'), Y. Wissa, F. Mayele (C. Bakambu 68').
No comments:
Post a Comment