Favourites Morocco missed their chance to seal a place in the next stage of the Africa Cup of Nations after being held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in San Pedro.
2024 Africa Cup of Nations
1-1
Match Events
6' GOAL! Morocco 1-0 Democratic Republic of the Congo (Achraf Hakimi)
32' Highlight from Morocco vs Democratic Republic of the Congo
42' Penalty Missed! (Cédric Bakambu)
58' Match Event for Morocco vs Democratic Republic of the Congo
73' Highlight from Morocco vs Democratic Republic of the Congo
77' GOAL! Morocco 1-1 Democratic Republic of the Congo (Silas Mvumpa)
Match Report
The 2022 World Cup semi-finalists grabbed a sixth-minute lead through Achraf Hakimi but rode their luck when Cedric Bakambu hit a post with a 41st-minute penalty.
The visitors pressed forward in the second half and got their reward when substitute Silas swept home a 76th-minute equaliser that keeps Congo’s hopes of qualifying from Group F alive.
Hakimi’s world-class volley from a Hakim Ziyech corner suggested Morocco, who had cruised through their opening match against Tanzania, would have enough to claim a second straight win.
Congo captain Chancel Mbemba almost turned the ball into his own net four minutes later as Morocco pressed, but the underdogs looked dangerous on the counter-attack through Brentford forward Yoane Wissa.
Mbemba was inches from getting the crucial touch to a corner just past the half-hour mark and after lengthy treatment to the injured Henock Inonga, the referee awarded Congo a penalty for handball after a VAR check.
Bakambu’s miss looked set to cost Congo, who were held to a frustrating draw by Zambia in their opening match, but substitutes Meschack Elia and Silas combined to level in the 76th minute when the latter’s deep cross was swept home.
A similar cross from Elia caused chaos two minutes later as Fiston Mayele forced a save out of Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou as Congo pressed for an unlikely winner.
Line-ups
Morocco XI: Bounou, Mohamed Chibi, Saiss, Boufal, Ziyech, Amrabat, Aguerd, Selim Amallah, Hakimi, En-Nesyri, Azzedine Ounahi
Subs: Munir, Yunis Abdelhamid, Tarik Tissoudali, Harit, Oussama El Azzouzi, A. El Kaabi, Yahia Attiyat Allah, Amine Adli, Ismael Saibari, Abde Ezzalzouli, Amir Richardson, Bilal El Khannouss
Democratic Republic of the Congo XI: Kakuta, Bakambu, Lionel Mpasi-Nzau, Mbemba, Masuaku, Théo Bongonda, Yoane Wissa, Gédéon Kalulu, Moutoussamy, Charles Pickel, Henoc Inonga
Subs: Nuke Mfulu, Kayembe, Dylan Batubinsika, Aaron Tshibola, Simon Banza, Dimitry Bertaud, Grady Diangana, Meschack Elia, Silas Mvumpa, Brian Bayeye, F. Kalala, Baggio Siadi