AFCON 2023: Leopards and Chipolopolo complete matchday 1 without a 0-0

DR Congo are back at AFCON. Absent from the 2021 edition in Cameroon, they left AFCON 2019 with an emphatic win over Zimbabwe (4-0). It was an impressive but useless victory: the Leopards, who had already lost their first two group games, were eliminated. Tonight, they celebrated their return against Zambia on Group F's opening matchday. They shared the points in a 1-1 draw.

The Leopards initially struggled, conceding a farcical goal that will surely circulate on social media. Congolese goalkeeper Lionel M’pasi made a poor attempt to come off his line and was caught out by a quick Zambian throw-in, with the goal scored by Kings Kangwa (23rd minute). Sébastien Desabre's men were not rattled for long. DR Congo equalised with a fine team move four minutes after conceding. Cédric Bakambu controlled a well-placed Gael Kakuta pass on his chest and sent a low cross into the box. The Zambian goalkeeper missed it, allowing Yoane Wissa, who had followed the move, to score into an empty net (27th minute). The score was 1-1 at half-time.

Neither side scored after the break. The Leopards dominated those final 45 minutes, but repeatedly failed to finish their chances. Morocco therefore lead Group F after beating Tanzania 3-0.