AFCON 2023: Clinical DR Congo down Guinea to secure semifinal berth
By Rama Mohammed |
DR Congo will now face either Ivory Coast or Mali in the semifinal
In a thrilling semifinal showdown at the Stade Ebimpe, DR Congo locked horns with Guinea in a high-stakes battle for a spot in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final. The match kicked off with Guinea showing early promise as Aguibou Camara's effort from inside the box tested the DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, resulting in a corner that failed to materialize into a scoring opportunity.
However, DR Congo responded swiftly with a counterattack of their own, only for Yoane Wissa to squander a clear chance by placing his shot wide of the mark, much to Guinea's relief.
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The deadlock was finally broken in the 16th minute when Guinea was awarded a penalty after Amadou Diawara was fouled in the box by Chancel Mbemba. Silas Katompa Mvumpa calmly stepped up and converted the spot-kick to give Guinea the lead.
Undeterred by the setback, DR Congo rallied and found the equalizer in the 27th minute through a superbly taken goal by Chancel Mangulu Mbemba from inside the box. The second half saw DR Congo seize control of the game, with Yoane Wissa putting them ahead in the 61st minute with a clinical finish from the penalty spot.
As Guinea pushed forward in search of an equalizer, DR Congo capitalized on the counter once again, with Arthur Masuaku making it 3-1 in the 82nd minute after a goalmouth scramble, effectively sealing the victory for his side.
Despite Guinea's valiant efforts, DR Congo held firm defensively to secure a hard-fought 3-1 win and book their place in the AFCON semifinals where they will meet the winner of the Ivory Coast versus Mali quarterfinal.
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