2022 World Cup: Benin and DR Congo back to back in qualifying

Congolese striker Dieumerci Mbokani, January 16, 2017 in the DRC jersey.

AP - Sunday Alamba

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

3 min

The Benin and DR Congo teams drew 1-1 on September 6, 2021 in Cotonou, in Group J of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

A result that does not do the business of the DRC, held in check by Tanzania on the first day of these qualifiers.

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When a selection from Benin unaccustomed to playing the game faces a DRC team in search of benchmarks, it results in a football match full of laudable intentions but without a winner. This September 6, 2021 in Cotonou, Beninese and Congolese have indeed parted on a 1-1. A score that does not suit the Leopards, were

defeated (1-1) by Tanzania

four days earlier.

This meeting, counting for group J of the qualifiers, had started well for the visitors, led by the Argentinian Hector Cuper.

The Beninese selection, coached by Michel Dussuyer, is then certainly on the move.

But it is his Congolese counterpart who takes control, from the 12th minute.

The striker Cédric Bakambu, shifted to the right, manages to center towards Dieumerci Mbokani at the far post.

The veteran (35) opens the scoring with a header: 0-1.

Benin, at the top of the ranking

However, the Beninese got back into the game, in the 33rd minute, when the side Melvin Doremus sent a long cross to the penalty spot.

Midfielder Jordan Adeoti heads the exit of the opposing goalkeeper, Joël Kassuamba: 1-1.

The Squirrels then have two big opportunities to gain the advantage.

In the 42nd minute, when Steve Mounié loses a head-to-head with Joël Kassuamba and then Matteo Ahlinvi crushes his shot too much.

Then at the hour of play: following a scramble in the Congolese surface, Jodel Dossou takes the ball back with a plunging head but it is returned by the left upright of the DRC (60th).

► To (re) read: 2022 World Cup: Africa qualifying schedule and results

Despite this result, Benin retains the lead in Group J, with 4 points now, pending the Tanzania-Madagascar match scheduled for September 7.

As for the Congolese, with 2 points taken in two matches, they are now doomed to shine if they want to finish first in the standings and thus qualify for the last round of these African qualifications for the

2022 World Cup

.

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