CAN 2023: at the end of the confusion, the Leopards secure their qualification for Ivory Coast
In an interminable wait that lasted nearly 50 minutes, the Democratic Republic of Congo finally obtained its ticket for the next African Cup of Nations. Despite mixed confidence before this decisive day, the Leopards managed to win against Sudan with a score of 2-0. A convincing performance which confirms the rebirth of the Congolese selection.
The coach, Sébastien Desabre, surprised everyone by aligning Charles Pickel as a defensive midfielder, leaving Edo Sur on the bench. This decision paid off as the Leopards quickly took control of the match.
From the kick-off, the Congolese players stifled their opponents by multiplying recoveries in the final Sudanese meters. On a superb deep pass from Charles Pickel, Théo Bongonda opened the scoring in the 7th minute, despite protests from the Sudanese defense who called for offside. With a solid central hinge formed by Mbemba and Batubinsika, the Congolese defense showed remarkable serenity, limiting the opposing team’s opportunities and leaving little work for goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.
In a favorable position, the Leopards managed the end of the game without too much difficulty. Fiston Kalala Mayele, who came on as a substitute for Cédric Bakambu, scored the second goal in the 87th minute, taking advantage of a defensive error by the opposing team. Alongside Mauritania, which won its match against Gabon, the Leopards validated their qualification for the next CAN. An expectation that will quickly be forgotten by the more than 54,000 spectators present in the stadium.
This victory for the Leopards of the DRC confirms the positive dynamic of the team and suggests good prospects for the next African Cup of Nations. Congolese supporters can now rejoice and hope for a good performance from their team during the competition in Ivory Coast.