DR Congo got the better of Guinea on Friday in the quarter-finals of CAN 2024 (3-1). Sébastien Desabre’s men will face the winner of Mali – Ivory Coast in the semi-final.
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This time, DR Congo did not wait for penalties. Chancel Mbemba’s team beat Guinea 3-1 in normal time on Friday February 2. A performance which opens the doors wide for them to the final four of CAN 2024.
It was not the crowd of big evenings in Ébimpé despite this tempting quarter-final display. But Guinea was playing at home: Syli supporters, like the flags, were present in force in the enclosure. It must be said that Ivory Coast has a very large Guinean community.
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Pushed by its fans, Guinea wastes no time. Guilavogui enters the Congolese area alone and places the ball but Mpasi deflects with his fingertips for a corner (1st).
DR Congo responds quickly: Elia overflows alone on the right side and crosses towards the Guinean area, but Koné dives to catch the ball (8th). Both teams capitalize on their wingers to bring danger into the opponent’s area, like the center from Kalulu (12th).
Mbemba, culprit then hero
It is inevitably from one side that the first goal of the match comes. Mohamed Bayo escapes and is pushed by Chancel Mbemba. Despite a long video check and attempts at intimidation, the Le Havre player took justice into his own hands (21st, 1-0).
Faulty on the penalty, the Marc-Vivien Foé 2023 prize will quickly be redeemed. He recovers a corner from Masuaku and fires a powerful shot which finds the inside post (27th, 1-1).
After the euphoria of the opening score, Kaba Diawara’s men were stunned. The Leopards advance like conquerors towards Koné’s cage, and Bakambu is close to scoring. On a free kick, he hits but it goes just wide (41st). In the six minutes of stoppage time, we see a timid reaction from Syli via Bayo. He gets the best of the defense but, too isolated, he is only blocked against Inonga (45th + 3).
Back on the green rectangle, the two teams surrender in quick succession. After good work from Diakité on the right side, Bayo misses the ball (47th) then Wissa attempts a low free kick but it is deflected by Amadou Diawara (50th). Then, the untenable Brentford winger attempts a curling shot which escapes the frame (54th).
Wissa on penalty
Perfectly found behind the defense, Conte clears Mpasi with a large bridge but can neither hit nor transmit (61st). Continuing, Silas overtakes everyone and enters the box. Jeanvier accidentally hits his knee. The referee is clear: penalty that Wissa is responsible for transforming (65th, 2-1).
The players tense up in the final minutes of the match. Guinea is desperately chasing the score while DR Congo is ready to do anything to maintain its advantage, including intelligently breaking the game.
In this configuration, only set pieces can change the game. On a very off-center free kick, Masuaku surprises everyone by taking his chance. Koné had anticipated a cross and was beaten (82nd, 3-1). Just like Guinea.
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While Sébastien Desabre’s project in taking charge of the Leopards was simply to do well at the CAN, here he is now in the last four. Two steps away from a coronation. But the next one risks being a big French-speaking part: Ivory Coast or Mali.