The Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) delivered an intense match against the Atlas Lions of Morocco on the second day of Group F. Despite a difficult start, the Congolese managed to keep their opponents in check thanks to to a solid performance.
The match started with Moroccan domination, who quickly opened the scoring thanks to Hakimi in the sixth minute. The Congolese reacted by investing in the Moroccan camp, creating several dangerous opportunities. Théo Bongonda notably put the Moroccan goalkeeper to work with a superb recovery.
However, the DRC missed an opportunity by missing a penalty following a foul on Bongonda. Cédric Bakambu sent the ball onto the post, missing the opportunity to equalize.
In the second half, coach Sébastien Desabre made substitutions which brought new impetus to the Congolese team. The entries of Batubinsika, Méchack Elia and Fiston Mayele were particularly decisive.
It was finally Silas Katompa, who came on in place of Gael Kakuta, who scored the equalizing goal for the DRC. Mechack Elia demonstrated his speed by overtaking the Moroccan defense before crossing for Katompa, who deceived the opposing goalkeeper.
The Congolese then had an additional opportunity, but the Moroccan defense managed to save the score. Despite their efforts, the match ended with a score of 1-1.
This result allows the DRC to remain in the race for qualification in the round of 16 of the CAN. The Leopards showed great combativeness against a Moroccan team renowned for its performances.
Silas Katompa, scorer for the DRC, was named man of the match for his decisive contribution to his team’s equalizer.
This draw proves once again that the Leopards of the DRC are a team capable of competing with the best African teams. They will still have the opportunity to prove themselves during the next matches of the competition.
In conclusion, this match between the DRC and Morocco was full of twists and turns. The Congolese showed their determination and their ability to stand up to high-level opponents. Their journey to CAN 2024 looks promising and is attracting the attention of football fans.