CAN 2024 qualifiers: DR Congo achieves the feat in Gabon and recovers

DR Congo suffered in Gabon, but won a precious victory (2-0) that completely relaunches it in the race to qualify for CAN 2024. Everything remains to be done in this group I where no team is yet qualified or eliminated before the last day.

The players of the DR Congo football team beat Gabon in Franceville. (Illustration). © Courtesy of CAF

Text by: Ndiasse Sambe Follow

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DR Congo has come a long way, far away. From a last place in the standings to that of leader thanks to its victory over Gabon (2-0). Long on the wire, the Leopards held in the storm in Franceville to emerge victorious from a meeting that had to be won at all costs.

Under the eyes of the Gabonese president, in a forum deemed impregnable, Sébastien Desabre's men showed solidity and realism to tame Gabon. Because, the Panthers dominated the game a lot. They had the opportunities, numerous, to emerge victorious from this shock, but the clumsiness of Boupendza, Bouanga or Aubameyang or the multiple parades of a Lionel Mpasi kept the Congolese alive.

It is almost against the course of the game that Aaron Tshibola opens the score by taking the lead a corner well executed by Arthur Masuaku (34th). Solid in defense, well helped by a goalkeeper in a state of grace, the Leopards defeat the Gabonese attackers who break their teeth in turn against the wall led by captain Chancel Mbemba.

Big suspense for the last day

The Panthers will have attacked a lot in this match and it is during one of their offensives that they are trapped by Fiston Mayele, returned less than 10 minutes before his liberating goal. Launched on the right side of the defense, the striker of the Young Africans (Tanzania) manages on his own, fixes his defender, gets on his right foot and unleashes a strike that leaves the Gabonese goalkeeper Jean-Noel Amonome (83rd) stunned.

The DRC, who started the qualifiers with two defeats, has just relaunched the race for qualification in this group I where no one is qualified or eliminated. Even after Tuesday's match between Sudan and Mauritania.

Gabon, on the other hand, has reason to be bitter. He had the qualification at hand, he must now go and get it on the soil of Mauritania on the last day.

Qualified teams: Côte d'Ivoire (host country) Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Morocco, South Africa, Egypt, Zambia, Nigeria, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Mali

Teams eliminated: Botswana, Madagascar, Lesotho, Sao Tome and Principe, Liberia, South Sudan, Niger, Togo, Sierra Leone, Eswatini, Comoros, Rwanda

>> Read also: CAN 2024 Qualifying: Calendar, results, rankings

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• CAN 2024
• DRC
• Gabon
• Football
• Sports