By

Eniola Olatunji

The Leopard of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday night at consumed the Sylli Nationals of Guinea 3-1 in the 2nd quarterfinal match officiated by Algerian Ref, Mustapha Ghorbal.

Guinea opened scoring through a penalty awarded when Mohammed Bayo of La Havre Club was brought down in the box. He stepped forward and scored a neat kick in the 20th minute. 

DR Congo came from behind to score three scintillating goals that sent Guinea home. The first was an equalizer was a set piece goal straight into the net taken Marseille’s Centre Back, Chancel Mausulu Mbemba in the 27th minute.

Brentford of UK player, Yoanne Wissa who scored in the 1-1 draw with Zambia scored a penalty goal in the 65th minute for 2nd goal to DRC and then the icing on the cake, a stunning free kick at the periphery of the box on the left flank that caught the Guinean Goalkeeper napping.

DRC joins Nigeria to march into the semifinal as Nigeria earlier in the day dismissed stubborn Antelopes of Angola by a lone goal.

DRC awaits the winner of the Mali versus Ivory Coast quarterfinal scheduled for tomorrow in the semifinal on Wednesday 7th February at 9pm.  

Nigeria would have met the winner of the Cape Verde versus South Africa that 7th February at 6pm. 

The DR Congo and Guinea had few meetings. In 2004 in an AFCO match Guinea beat Congo 2-1 with goals from Titi Camara and Pascal Feindoune; in a CHAN match of 3rd February 2016 they played 1-1 draw; DR Congo won the world cup qualifier played at Conakry on 14th November 2016 and in the second leg played away in Congo, DRC 12th November 2017.

Gabonese Ref Pierre Atcho is one of the few Refs already sent home by CAF, if you remember Pierre he officiated the Senegal versus Cote D’Ivoire match where he failed to sternly give Sadio Mane a straight red card for stamping on the shin of an opponent. Nigeria’s Alex Iwobi got a red card in Egypt 21 for same offence.

DR Congo Leopards played 1-1 with Zambia; played another 1-1 with Morocco and drew goalless with Tanzania at the group stages and proceeded to subdue seven times Champion, the mighty Pharaohs of Egypt via penalty 8-7 after 1-1 draw at full time in the Round of 16.

The Sylli Nationals of Guinea drew 1-1 with Cameroon; defeated Gambia by a lone goal; but bowed to Senegal 0-2 at the group C stage before knocking out Equatorial Guinea 1-0 with a late goal scored 90+8 minute scored by Mohammed Bayo. Highest goal scorer in the tournament as at the Round of 16, Emilio Nsue lost a penalty in 69th minute. 
 
Bayo in this match has scored 3 of their 4 goals for Guinea but their midfield dynamo, Naby Keita missed the match due to injury.

DR Congo striker, Cedric Bakambu came back after a one match suspension. The team looks like having a knack for qualifying in the knockout stages via penalty kicks as in the last match with Egypt and the 3rd place match in 2015. 

The Leopards of Democratic Republic of Congo ranked 67th in the world and 22nd in Africa made 19 appearances at AFCON winning twice in 1968 and 1974. That 1968 at Ethiopia, DRC then Zaire won her first title beating Ghana by a lone goal; 1974 at Egypt, there had to be a replay after 2-2 draw and the country that was Zaire that time beat the Kenneth Kaunda boys 2-0; Burkina Faso 98 saw DRC winning Bronze 4-1 on penalties after 4-4 at full time; the last time DRC climbed the podium was for Bronze at Equatorial Guinea in 2015 when the Leopards beat hosts 4-2 on penalties after a goalless full time.

Guinea lost their last six AFCON games at Knockout stages failing to score in each of their last four as in 0-3 to Algeria in 2019 and shocking 0-1 to Gambia in the last competition of 2021.

The Sylli National or Elephants ranked 80 in the world and 15th in Africa is making her 14th appearance at the AFCON but has only one podium finish in Ethiopia 76 when she played 1-1 draw with Morocco and the Gold was awarded the North Africans.