Favoured
Ghana were held to a 2-2
draw by fighting DR Congo
Sunday in the opening Group
B match at the 2013 Africa
Cup of Nations.
The Congolese Leopards,
who have been embroiled in
squabbles over bonuses
ahead of the match, showed
great character to come from
two goals down and take a
point.
Emmanuel Agyeman Badu
gave the Black Stars the lead,
and scored the first goal of
this tournament, in the 40th
minute when he tapped
home after a well-worked
move involving Kwadwo
Asamoah.
Juventus star Asamoah
doubled Ghana’s lead four
minutes after half-time when
he headed home a corner
taken by Mubarak Wakaso.
Skipper Tresor Mputu pulled
a goal back for the Congolese
in the 53rd minute after
being put through by Cedric
Makiadi.
Dieumerci Mbokani drew the
Congolese level in the 68th
minute by converting a
penalty kick after he was
fouled by Jerry Akaminko.
“This match was a great
advertisement for African
football,” said DR Congo
coach Claude le Roy.
“I’m proud of my players.
They have great quality and
they showed it by coming
back to a high-level
competition like the Africa
Cup after a seven-year
absence.
“We deserved this result
after all the problems we had
and I hope that it will get the
whole country behind the
team now.”
Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah
said: “I knew this match
would not be easy, but it was
unfortunate we did not win
our first game.
“We relaxed and we suffered
from some tactical
indiscipline which we must
correct in our next game.”
The small, noisy crowd at the
45,000-seat Nelson Mandela
Bay Stadium were treated to
an open, entertaining match.
Moments before Mbokani
equalised, substitute Rabiu
Mohammed could have
extended the Black Stars’
lead, but he hesitated when
through on goal and the
Leopards cleared the danger.
Congo goalkeeper Robert
Kidiaba scrambled a
powerful Asamoah Gyan shot
for corner in the 70th minute
and, at the other end,
midfielder Youssuf Mulumbu
was denied by a fine diving
save from goalkeeper Fatau
Dauda.
The first half was also
packed with chances for
both teams.
Ghana took the game to DR
Congo from the kick-off
when Christian Atsu
delivered a cross from the
left which was cleared for a
corner.
In a frantic start by both
teams, DRC also attacked and
Mputu set up Lomana Lua
Lua inside the Ghana box in
the 13th minute, but the
crossbar denied the veteran
striker.
Moments later, the Leopards
threatened again when
Mboakani cut the ball back
only for Mputu’s shot to fly
over.
Ghana skipper Gyan should
have scored on the half-hour
mark after being sent clear
by Derek Boateng, but his
tame shot finished well off
target.....
From vanguard Nigeria
