DR Congo Advance To African World Cup Playoffs

DR Congo claimed a comfortable 2-0 win over Benin in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Group J match at the Stade de Martyrs in Kinshasa on Sunday evening.

Therefore, the Leopards finished top of the group with 11 points, while the Squirrels stayed second on the log with their ambitions of qualifying reaching the dead end.

Benin dominated the opening exchanges as expected, as Jodel Dossou were quite happy to sit back and catch the DR Congo on the break.

However, despite Benin’ dominance, they failed to trouble the hosts in the final third and were restricted to long range efforts for large parts of the opening minutes.

DR Congo were awarded a penalty on the 10^th minute after Gael Kakuta was fouled in the box and Dieumerci Mbokani converted from the spot-kick to hand the Leopards a 1-0 lead.

Pressure continued to mount on the Benin defence with DR Congo looking to double their lead and Arthur Masuaku nearly found the back of the net on the half-hour mark, but his strike went over the bar.

Benin went close in the 39th minute, as Yohan Roche picked out Ben malango with a delightful free-kick but the striker’s header sailed inches wide of the upright.

Christian Luyindama came close to increasing the Leopards’s advantage in the 65th minute but the defender’s header powerful header sailed inches over the crossbar.

DR Conogo’s passage into the next round was sealed in the 72th minute courtesy of a powerful header by Benson Malango.

Chancel Mbemba nearly rounded off the scoring with one of his trademark strikes in the 88th minute but his effort was palmed away by Saturmin Allagbe.