Congo DR beat Guinea to reach AFCON semifinals

Updated: Feb 2, 2024, 05:38 pm

The Democratic Republic of Congo came from a goal behind to beat Guinea 3-1 in their Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium on Friday and join Nigeria in the last four.

Chancel Mbemba, Yoane Wissa and Arthur Masuaku scored the goals as the Congolese recovered from conceding an early penalty to secure victory and a semifinal berth for the first time since 2015.

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Mbemba had given away a penalty when he shoved Mohamed Bayo in the box to allow the Guinea striker to score after 20 minutes but the Congolese captain made up for his error seven minutes later with an excellent left-footed finish.

Congo DR then had a penalty of their own in the 65th minute which Wissa tucked away and Masuaku completed the victory by scoring directly from a free kick near the touchline eight minutes from time. 

The audacious set-piece swung into the near post catching the goalkeeper out of position.

Congo DR have reached their first AFCON semifinal in nine years.
SIA KAMBOU/AFP via Getty Images

Guinea, looking to make a first-ever semi-final appearance, might have had a first minute penalty as Mbemba appeared to handle the ball in attempting to clear the first attack of the game but their appeals were turned down by the referee.

However, Mbemba was not as fortunate when he shoulder-charged Bayo and handed Guinea the opportunity to take the lead.

Mbemba more than atoned, however, with a superb left footed finish at the back post, hit from a tight angle as Guinea failed to clear a corner, for the equaliser.

Julian Jeanvier then fouled substitute Silas Katompa to offer the Congolese a penalty of their own which Wissa converted.

Masuaku's brilliant effort put the cherry on top of a convincing effort which came after four successive draws at the tournament in the Ivory Coast for the Congolese.

They drew all three group games but still finished second behind Morocco in Group F and then after a 1-1 stalemate with Egypt, won on post-match penalties in the last 16 at the weekend.

Congo DR, who won the last of two Cup of Nations titles in 1974 when they were still known as Zaire, now take on either hosts Ivory Coast or Mali in the semifinal in Abidjan on Wednesday.

Nigeria beat Angola 1-0 in the first quarterfinal earlier on Friday and take on either the Cape Verde Islands or South Africa in their semifinal.