Niger made AFCON history on Thursday night in Port Elizabeth when they won their first point at the AFCON by holding DR Congo to a goalless draw in a Group B match.
The Mena were surprisingly the better team on the day against the Leopards, who won many admirers with the manner they held out against Ghana on Sunday.
The Mena had the first real chance of the game as early the 4th minute when poor defending by Leopards gifted Mohammed Modibo a one on one with custodian Kidiaba but his well curved shot hit the base of the post.
In the 13th minute, Niger goalie Kassaly made a great save to deny Belgium based forward Mbokani an opportunity to net his second goal of the tournament.
The Anderlecht star was all alone inside the box and even controlled the ball but Kassaly went down to push the ball to safety.
In the 34th minute, Congo should have scored but Mulumbu’s shot inside the 18 yard box went inches off the mark.
From then on, it was end to end as both sides created chances put failed to put them away till the 90 minutes.
With Ghana defeating Mali 1-0 in an earlier game, DR Congo go third in group B on two points just one behind their next opponents Mali in a match they must win to ensure progress to the next stage.