A transformed DR Congo secured a win against the already-eliminated Botswana in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) but had to accept second position in Group D.
The Leopards had already secured a place in the knockout stage before the match in Rabat and started the last round of games trailing the leading Senegal on goal difference.
Nathanael Mukau connected with Gael Kakuta’s clever backheel to score just after the 30-minute mark, and 10 minutes later, a penalty by ex-Chelsea player Kakuta increased the lead to 2-0 for the Central Africans.
The penalty was given after Meschack Elia’s cross hit Thabo Leinanyane’s hand, leading referee Ahmad Heeralall to consult the pitch-side monitor via the video assistant referee (VAR).
Kakuta, initially not included in DR Congo’s squad but brought in due to an injury to Mario Stroeykens, scored the third goal in the 60th minute by finishing a cut-back from substitute Theo Bongonda.
Fiston Mayele had a possible fourth goal disallowed for handball during the second half—even though the ball seemed to strike the area of his upper arm that was covered by his shirt sleeve—and Bongonda missed three late opportunities to score.
Senegal’s 3-0 victory against Benin ensured that the West Africans placed above the Leopards by a two-goal difference.
The DR Congo stays in Morocco’s capital but will encounter a challenging round of 16 game against two-time champions Algeria on Tuesday, January 6 (16:00 GMT).
Following the 1-1 draw with Senegal on Saturday, DR Congo required the Teranga Lions to lose points or to exceed the West Africans’ goal difference against Benin by three goals to lead the group.
Manager Sebastien Desabre implemented seven alterations to his starting lineup, with playmaker Bongonda and forward Cedric Bakambu being two of the players who were omitted.
The Leopards temporarily ascended to the top after gaining the lead, but Abdoulaye Seck’s goal for the Teranga Lions in Tangier reestablished the West Africans’ lead.
With a 3-0 lead, the Leopards matched the Senegalese record, which would have required a draw of lots for the top position, while Mayele’s possible fourth goal, disallowed after another VAR review, might have secured the group for them.
Ultimately, Cherif Ndiaye’s late penalty for Senegal resolved the situation, saving Bongonda from embarrassment after he sent a header over, failed to score with an open goal, and had a low shot saved by the extended leg of Botswana’s goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko during stoppage time.
Last month, the Congolese stunned African giants Cameroon and Nigeria in playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making Algeria cautious of their rivals as Desabre aims to improve on their fourth-place finish from the 2023 tournament.
Botswana, on the other hand, concluded their second finals appearance without scoring or earning any points, having similarly been eliminated in the group stage during their AFCON debut in 2012.
