AFCON: DR Congo beat Morocco 1-0 to top Group

Democratic Republic of Congo assumed top of Group C following a 1-0 win over Morocco as Junior Kabanaga fired home the winner in the Gabonese city of Oyem at the on-going Africa Cup of Nations.

The Kazakhstan-based forward’s 55-minute strike secured the win for the Leopards who successfully survived a late onslaught from the North Africans – playing with 10 men for the final nine minutes, after Joyce Lomalisa Mutambala was sent off – to secure all three points on Monday.

The Moroccans did put up a strong fight towards the end, hoping to capitalize on the fact that their opponents had been reduced to nine men with Gabriel Zakuani on the side of the pitch having picked up an injury. But goalkeeper Ley Matampi was on hand to deny Youssef El- Arabi with a superb stop as the Leopards held on for the win.

Read Also: AFCON: Mahrez bags brace, earns Algeria a point

Earlier on Monday, in the Group C opener between Ivory Coast and Togo, the defending champions Cote d’Ivoire were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw by Togo.

The game, which was the first 0-0 score line of the tournament, lacked quality as both teams struggled to impress throughout the encounter.

Monday’s results mean DR Congo are group leaders with 3 points, followed by Ivory Coast and Togo with one point each, and Morocco positioned at the bottom of the group.

The Democratic Republic of Congo will play their next game against Ivory Coast on Friday, while Morocco will seek to regain hopes of advancing to the second round when they play Togo on the same day.

 

 

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