In a crucial Group F encounter at Korhogo's Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, DR Congo secured a place in the round of 16 of the AFCON Cote d'Ivoire 2023 with a goalless draw against Tanzania. The Leopards will now face Egypt after finishing second to Morocco, who topped Group F.
The goalless draw against Tanzania marked DR Congo's third consecutive stalemate in the tournament, following 1-1 draws in their previous matches against Zambia and Morocco. Knowing that Morocco was on track to finish at the top of the group, the Leopards entered the match understanding that a single point would be enough to secure their spot in the knockout stage.
The opening half concluded with few chances created, and Tanzania surprisingly absorbed the pressure despite having an outside chance of qualifying. As the game progressed, DR Congo pressed forward, but the acrobatic goalkeeping of Aishi Manula denied their attempts.
DR Congo came close to snatching a late victory, with Manula making a crucial save in the 84th minute to keep out Yoane Wissa's well-struck effort. The draw ensured DR Congo's advancement to the round of 16, while Tanzania bid farewell to the competition.
Tanzania's Interim Coach, Juma Mgunda, commented on the game, saying, “It was a good game. We unfortunately couldn't get a goal, but I am happy with the performance. The boys did well. It was a good game even though we couldn't get the desired result.”
DR Congo Coach Sebastien Desabre expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I am very happy for my players and the people of DR Congo. This competition started a year ago for us through the qualifiers. I am very proud of the team's performance. When you have such unity in the team, you get the result and the fans and people at home will enjoy this.” Desabre highlighted the team's adjustment in style for this decisive match, emphasizing their focus on qualification and control of the game.
