DR Congo march on after Tanzania stalemate

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').