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Congolese Cédric Bakambu. RFI / Pierre René-Worms

The DRC managed to qualify for the CAN finals by beating Liberia at home. Cédric Bakambou scored the only goal of the game during the second period. Beaten by Zimbabwe (2-0), neighbors Congo-Brazzaville will not be traveling for the second time in a row since the CAN 2015 where they had been quarter-finalist in Equatorial Guinea.

To hope to see the pyramids of Cairo, the DRC of Florent Ibenge, the coach, had no choice but to win against Liberia in Kinshasa. Third at one point of the Single Stars before the final day of the playoffs, the Congolese had to get into the fight.

Third in 2015 in Equatorial Guinea and quarter-finalist in 2017 in Gabon, the DRC held its breath for 90 minutes. " I wish you good luck tomorrow. And above all, give us this victory. I will be with you until the end tomorrow (Sunday, March 24). Good luck guys and may God accompany you , "even promised Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi, the new President of the Republic.

Cédric Bakambu hero of the day

And in the stands of the Stadium of the Martyrs of Pentecost Kinshasa, everyone had in mind this elimination for the 2018 World Cup in Russia after a draw against Tunisia (2-2). Not to take part in the African football festival would have been for the DRC a new big disappointment.

And the Congolese were quick to embark on the battle from the beginning of the encounter with a single incursion in the penalty area of ​​Cedric Bakambu who collided with the gatekeeper of Liberia. In the 28th minute, Chancel Mbemba tried his luck of the head: the ball just passed the goal.

At the break, the Leopards had not yet found the solution to blow the lock. It was back in the locker room that the Congolese moved up a gear. After finding the cross in the 51st, the DRC scored the first goal a minute later thanks to Cedric Bakambu, who will certainly remain the hero of the day.

The disillusion of Congo-Brazzaville

The Red Devils of the Congo, they were moving to Harare to face the Warriors of Zimbabwe. The last of their group with five points, the Congolese, deprived of their top scorer, Thievy Bifouma, had no more calculations to make. They had to win at all costs to steal the spotlight from Zimbabweans.

Except that the Congolese started very badly by taking a first goal in the first period signed Khama Billiat (20th). Congo, quarter-finalist in 2015 and not qualified for the CAN 2017 in Gabon, did not make the task easy. And the miracle moved even further after Zimbabwe's second goal, Knowledge Musona (36). The CAN 2019 playoffs ended in pain for Congo, who finished in last place in their group.