DR Congo and Angola’s chances of progressing to the 2021 edition of the Total Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) remained delicate as the two sides played to a goalless draw at the Stade de Martyrs in Kinshasa on Saturday.
The home side will have only themselves to blame after missing several scoring chances in the second half as they picked a third consecutive draw.
DR Congo remain third on the standings with three points while the Angolans picked their first point of the campaign after back to back losses to group leaders Gabon (7) and second placed Gambia (4).
The opening half wasn’t a spectacle of many chances as both teams struggled to make the most in the final third of attack. The best chance was DR Congo’s after 22 minutes when Gody Muzinga’s cross from the left rolled across the face of goal, begging for a touch with a gaping goalmouth.
The Leopards improved their final third performance in the second half which saw them create several good scoring opportunities. Cedric Bakambu and Yannick Bolasie were introduced as the home side chose to add some firepower in attack.
Bolasie came close to breaking the deadlock in the 62nd minute when he drifted in from the left, but his well taken shot came off the upright with the keeper well beaten.
In the 68th minute, defender Chancel Mbemba should have done better when he was picked out bya corner unmarked at the edge of the six yard box, bit his header went inches over the bar.
The home side continued dominating and Bolasie had another chance when he took a first time volley from range with the keeper off his line, but the effort was off target. Merveille Bope was next in the line of chances, his header off a Musinga freekick flying wide.
Despite late efforts by both sides to create scoring chances, the goals were just not coming for them.
⏱ Fin du match ⚽️
Victoire du Bénin 1 – 0 contre le Lesotho !
Une victoire très importante du @Benin_FBF dans cette course à la qualification pour la CAN 2022, le Bénin est actuellement 2ème du groupe L, il ne reste plus qu’à confirmer au Lesotho dans 3 jours.#BENLES
— Fédération Béninoise de Football (FBF) 🇧🇯🐿⚽️ (@Benin_FBF) November 14, 2020
Benin 1-0 Lesotho
Meanwhile in Benin, the hosts beat Lesotho by a solitary goal to move to within a point of Group L leaders Nigeria.
Jodel Dossou scored the winner for Benin in the 24th minute with a brilliant shot from inside the box after skipping past his markers.
The home side were the better side in both halves and had the better chances at goal. In the 31st minute they had a chance to make it 2-0 but Rodrigue Kossi’s shot went just wide.
Four minutes to the break, Dossou had a chance for a second when he was sent through on goal by Youssouf Assogba, but his shot was saved by the Lesotho keeper’s legs.
This article was previously published on CAFonline.com
