Congo have taken an early lead in Group D of the 2018 African Nations Championship following a 1-0 upset of Cameroon in Tuesday's matchday one action.
With Angola and Burkina Faso playing out a
pulsating goalless draw in the other group game,
the Red Devils are confirmed to remain in the
driving seat, at least until Saturday.
It was largely a balanced game at Stade Adrar in
Agadir as neither Cameroon - led by the
legendary Rigobert Song - nor Congo showed a
sign of dominance.
And after both sides missed first half
opportunities to take the lead, the decisive
moment of the game came in the 70th minute.
Cesair Sidney Gandze picked out Vieljeux
Prestige Mboungou with a neatly-weighted dink,
and well through on goal, the Diables Rouges
forward looked set to strike the opener until he
was brought down by the onrushing goalkeeper
Jean Gwot Kalati. A penalty was inevitably
awarded.
Junior Makiesse Mouzita stepped up and coolly
sent Kalati the wrong way to put the Red Devils
1-0 up.
The Indomitable Lions subsequently mounted a
late challenge to draw level but substitute Bitang
Clarence Junior saw his free-kick saved, while
Paul Abouem Maya effort's from six yards
harmlessly flew over the bar.
In the first match of the day, a wasteful Angola
side were held to a goalless draw by Burkina
Faso.
The Palancas Negras spurned a flurry of
chances to claim three points, with Afonso Fofo
the main culprit.
The two sides, thus, picked a point each ahead
of Saturday's round of games.
On matchday two, Cameroon will square off
against Angola, while Congo take on Burkina
Faso.
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