Theo Bongonda scored the one purpose as DR Congo opened their Africa Cup of Nations marketing campaign with a hard-fought win over Benin in Rabat.
Bongonda capitalised on some woeful defending to maneuver his nation to the top of Group D forward of this afternoon’s recreation between Senegal and Botswana.
Benin battled exhausting however have been unable to discover a route again right into a contest missing in high quality.
DRC began nicely and loved the majority of the possession within the opening quarter of an hour and it was no shock after they took the lead, though it did are available in barely odd circumstances.
Arthur Masuaku’s lengthy punt ahead must have been meat and drink for the Benin defenders however they surprisingly opted to let the ball bounce and Bongonda didn’t want a second invitation, stealing in to fireplace left-footed previous Saturnin Allagbe.
Benin battle again
It appeared tailored for DRC to go on and dominate the sport however Benin battled again impressively, albeit with out providing a lot of a innovative.
Doku Dodo nodded huge after which lashed a shot over the bar with the most effective two first-half alternatives for the Cheetahs.
Though they have been not dominating the midfield battle, DRC nonetheless carried extra attacking risk and solely an excellent last-ditch block prevented Cédric Bakambu from making it 2-0 after 28 minutes.
Bakumbu thought he had gone one higher two minutes into the second half when he bought on the top of Nathanael Mbuku’s left-wing cross to information a header previous Allagbe. A prolonged VAR test dominated the purpose out, nevertheless, with Mbuku adjudged offside when receiving Noah Sadiki’s cross.
Bakumbu thwarted once more
Veteran striker Bakumbu was enduring a irritating afternoon and he squandered one other likelihood with 20 minutes to go, seeing his low shot smothered huge by Allagbe.
Benin pushed ahead within the latter phases however DRC held agency regardless of one or two nervous moments from goalkeeper Lionel M’Pasi N’Zau, though he did pull off one wonderful save to disclaim Aiyegun Tosin.
