DR Congo claim AFCON bronze

DR Congo DR claimed the bronze medal at the Orange Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after defeating Equatorial Guinea 4-2 on penalty-shootout.

The host took the game to the Congolese and twice came close to taking the lead barely 10 minutes into the match. But Javier Bilboa and later Emili Nsue had their efforts saved by Robert Kidiaba.

Congo’s best chance came after 30 minutes when a knockdown by Crystal Palace’s Yannick Bolasie was met by Herve Kage but his goal-bound effort was blocked.

At the restart, Bolasie came close to giving his side the lead in the 59th minute but his strike from the edge of the box was saved by the goalkeeper.

Bolasie, yet again, was denied by the keeper in the 66th minute when he cut in from the left before aiming for goal, but Ovono was equal to the task.

Equatorial Guinea came close at the other end, but Nsue couldn’t beat Kidiaba on one-on-one.

The game dragged on as both side could not break the deadlock and the lottery of penalty shoot-out had to decide the winner in the losers’ final.

DR Congo held their nerves as they scored all four of their penalties, with the host missing two, to clinch third place.

Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana meet on Sunday in a repeat of 1992 final.