Eqautorial Guinea 0 (2)-0(4) DR Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) settled for third place in the 2015 AFCON finals after overcoming the hosts, Equatorial Guinea on the FIFA Post match penalties at the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo on Saturday.
Equatorial Guinea started brightly and a tenth-minute penalty area scramble almost put midfielder Ivan Zarandona in but he could only shoot over the crossbar.
DR Congo’s Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie had the best chance of the first-half in the 39th minute but he sliced his shot wide of Felipe Ovono’s goal posts.
Dieumerci Mbokani, the tournament’s joint top goal scorer on three goals, had a golden opportunity to put DR Congo ahead eights minutes into the second-half.
A towering header two minutes into the second half from Congo DR full-back Chancel Mbemba forced a fine save from Ovono, while Equatorial Guinea substitute Miguel Angel fired wildly over shortly before the hour mark.
Shoot Outs:
After referee, Ghead Grisha’s last whistle following 120 minutes of no goals returned, penalties had to decide the winner.
Equatorial Guinea opted to go first in the penalty shootout but Balboa spooned his effort high and wide to give Congo DR the advantage, which they duly took when Cedrick Mabwati slotted his penalty straight down the middle past a despairing Ovono.
Raul Fabiani sought to get the hosts on the board but his weak low effort was comfortably saved by Kidiaba, with Lema Mabidi showing fine composure to give Congo DR a two-goal lead.
Equatorial Guinea did get on the board when Juvenal Edjogo-Owono converted their third spot kick, but Congo DR were on the brink of victory when Mbemba fired home.
Viera Ellong kept Equatorial Guinea in the game by scoring from the spot but Congo DR wrapped up victory and third place when Mongongu dispatched his penalty high into the right corner to spark wild celebrations from his team.
DR Congo, Uganda’s neighbors to the West take third place at the expense of the hosts.