Sports
DR Congo Defeats Benin as Leopards Roar at AFCON 2025
DR Congo national football team began their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Benin national football team.
DR Congo national football team began their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Benin national football team in Group D in Rabat, securing an important early result at the finals in Morocco.
The decisive moment came in the 16th minute. Benin defender Yohan Roche misjudged a long ball forward from Arthur Masuaku, allowing Theo Bongonda to react quickly and guide a first-time volley into the bottom right corner from close range. It proved to be the goal that separated the sides.
DR Congo, semi-finalists at the last AFCON under coach Sebastien Desabre, looked capable of extending their lead after the break. Cedric Bakambu thought he had doubled the advantage early in the second half, but a lengthy VAR review ruled his header out for offside in the build-up. Bakambu then missed two clear chances—first denied in a one-on-one by Benin goalkeeper Saturnin Allagbe, and later heading straight at him from a free-kick.
Benin pushed for an equaliser late on and nearly found it in the final minute when Aiyegun Tosin fired from a tight angle. DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi blocked the effort, and the ball bounced safely across the face of goal.
The second half was disrupted by issues with the referee’s communications equipment, contributing to 10 minutes of added time, but DR Congo held firm to claim a winning start.
The Leopards arrived at the tournament in strong form after recent World Cup qualifying wins over Cameroon and Nigeria, and they again created the better chances at the compact Stade El Barid—though the scoreline remained tight. Benin, returning to the AFCON finals for the first time since their 2019 quarter-final run and missing key players including first-choice goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou, struggled to turn possession into clear opportunities.
Next up, Benin—managed by Gernot Rohr—will look to bounce back against Botswana, while two-time AFCON winners DR Congo travel north to Tangier for a heavyweight Group D clash with Senegal.
