2017 AFRICA CUP - GROUP C - DAY 03 - DR Congo VS Morocco 1:0
Africa Cup 2017
Group C
Day 03
6th match
DR Congo vs Morocco 1:0
DR Congo put their difficult Africa Cup of Nations build-up behind them to beat Morocco in their Group C opening fixture, despite finishing with 10 men.
Florent Ibenge's side, who went on strike over unpaid bonuses on Friday, almost trailed early on at Stade d'Oyem when Mbark Boussoufa struck the bar.
Junior Kabananga put them ahead before substitute Lomalisa Mutambala was booked twice in 16 minutes.
Morocco's Youssef El-Arabi missed with two headed chances late on.
The substitute glanced wide from a set-piece delivery and then met a cross cleanly to force a parry from DR Congo keeper Ley Matampi.
The Leopards were down to nine men for several minutes in the closing stages when they lost defender Gabriel Zakuani to injury having made all of their substitutions.
The Northampton Town player returned for six minutes of injury time, as Ibenge's side saw out pressure to ensure Kabananga's guided finish from 10 yards put them top of their group.
Morocco - managed by two-time Cup of Nations winner Herve Renard - are bottom of the group after the first round of fixtures, as defending champions Ivory Coast and Togo drew 0:0 earlier in the day.
Renard, who guided Zambia to the title in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015, has been told by the country's FA that reaching the quarter-finals is a minimum requirement.
But despite managing 62% of possession and 15 shots against a side eight places above them in Fifa's rankings, they were unable to turn their numerical advantage into a positive start.
Morocco
The Atlas Lions trumpeted the loftiness of their ambitions by jilting manager Badou Zaki last year despite being joint-top of their qualifying group and replacing him with Hervé Renard, the Frenchman who has won the tournament with Zambia and Ivory Coast.
But they have yet to find real consistency under the new manager and their quest to become African champions for the first time since 1976 has been undermined by a slew of injuries to important players, including the striker Oussama Tannane, the midfielders Nordin Amrabat and Sofiane Boufal and the nifty creator Younès Belhanda.
They will still have a degree of ingenuity in front of a Mehdi Benatia-led defence, with Mbark Boussoufa, in particular, capable of creating chances.
But they will not be as creative as they would have been with a fully fit squad so will have to achieve a high chance conversion rate if they are to advance.
When Morocco met Ivory Coast in World Cup qualification in November the countries fought out a 0:0 draw and this month’s battle between the pair, and with DR Congo, promises to be similarly fierce.
Key player:
DR Congo
Florent Ibengé has forged a potent collective from an array of skilful players spread across many European and domestic clubs, including the fine left-back Joyce Lomalisa of AS Vita, the Congolese side that Ibengé runs in addition to his national team duties.
Ibengé was in charge when DR Congo finished third two years ago and several of the current squad, including Lomalisa, played under him last year when the country triumphed at the African Nations Championship, the continental tournament for home-based players.
Their chances of following that up by winning the continent’s most prestigious competition have been reduced by the loss of Yannick Bolasie but the Leopards should still prove formidable contenders, especially if Neeskens Kebano, the dinky schemer signed by Fulham last summer, and the thrilling Villarreal forward Cédric Bakambu are on song.
The latter partnered Antoine Griezmann when winning the Under-19 European Championship with France in 2010 and, having made his debut for DR Congo last year, he could now win a senior title with a side spearheaded by Dieumerci Mbokani.
That is not as unlikely it might sound to fans of Hull City.
Key player
Congo DR
Morocco