DR Congo vs Guinea 3-1: CAF AFCON 2023 – as it happened
All our updates from the second quarterfinal at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
This page is now closed. Thank you for joining us. These were the updates as DR Congo beat Guinea 3-1 at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2023 on Friday, February 2:
This page is now closed. Thank you for joining us. These were the updates as DR Congo beat Guinea 3-1 at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2023 on Friday, February 2:
- DRC beat Guinea 3-1 to reach the semifinals the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2023 in Ivory Coast.
- The first quarterfinal of the day saw Nigeria beat Angola 1-0.
- Two-time winners DRC beat Egypt 8-7 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time in the round of 16.
- Guinea overcame rivals Equatorial Guinea with a 1-0 win in their last-16 tie.
- DRC will now face either Ivory Coast or Mali in the semifinal. Nigeria will face either Cape Verde or South Africa.
- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
Goodbye for now
That’s it from the live coverage for Friday.
Nigeria have been joined by DR Congo in the semifinals at AFCON.
South Korea and Jordan advanced at the Asian Cup.
We’ll be back with more live action for you on Saturday to find who will complete the semifinal lineup at both competitions.
We do hope you enjoyed the live pages throughout the day and can join us for the next instalments.
For now, though, it’s goodbye from me, Kevin Hand, and all the team bringing you all the action.
𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐃! ✅
🇨🇩 The Leopards are in the semi-finals! 🌟#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/aGsd2GxWrg
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 2, 2024
Wissa is Player of the Match
🇨🇩 Yoanne Wissa 🇨🇩
He did an absolute good job there to take the TotalEnergies Man of the Match! 👏#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | #RDCGUI | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/MD4WFv0KnB
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 2, 2024
The DR Congo celebratory dance was on display again
𝗜𝗧 𝗙𝗘𝗟𝗧 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧. 💥🇨🇩#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | #RDCGUI pic.twitter.com/Op4OGwg3U4
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 2, 2024
Full-time – DR Congo go through!
That’s it! DR Congo are headed to the semifinal.
Full-time: DR Congo 3-1 Guinea
Another header blocked
The follow-up corner is headed towards the goal but into a crowd of players.
Silas charges to the other end by blazes over.
90+5 minutes: DR Congo 3-1 Guinea
Guirassy goes close
He meets the corner but his header is deflected just the wrong side of the post.
90+4 minutes: DR Congo 3-1 Guinea
Guinea throw bodies forward
They are not giving up and have won a corner.
90+3 minutes: DR Congo 3-1 Guinea
Five minutes added on
The game is as good as done, but then this has been the AFCON of surprises.
90 minutes: DR Congo 3-1 Guinea
A goal fitting of securing a quarterfinal
That truly was an outstanding free kick from Masuaku.
The vision and the ability to carry it off.
The angle had to be perfect given it was an away-swinging free kick as such.
85 minutes: DR Congo 3-1 Guinea
GOAL!
Masuaku goes for goal directly from the free kick on the left wing.
He saw the keeper creeping off his line and bent the ball, left-footed, in behind him.
Kone backtracked, but the ball fizzed in. Brilliant free kick.
82 minutes: DR Congo 3-1 Guinea
Free kick punched away
It’s DR Congo on the attack and a deep free kick is pumped in from the right. Conte was booked for the foul that led to it.
The Congolese look the brighter as the game wears on. Guinea need to get going here. The clock is ticking.
80 minutes: DR Congo 2-1 Guinea
Cooling break
Goodness me, after all the subs did, we really need the cooling break now.
As former Nigerian international Daniel Amokachi said on the official tournament broadcast when the Guinea penalty took an eternity to be taken, if there are clearly long breaks in play, there is no need for the cooling break.
At least it’s not breaking up a fantastic period of play as it did in the first half.
Maybe it will have the reverse effect this time.
75 minutes: DR Congo 2-1 Guinea
Another DR Congo sub
Banza comes on for DR Congo to replace Bakambu.
The managers are making their moves.
It’s also breaking up the play in the last few minutes which suits DR Congo perfectly.
73 minutes: DR Congo 2-1 Guinea
GOAL!
Wissa scored from the spot. Cooly done.
A staggered run-up and then a drilled shot to the left. The keeper went the right way but it was into the corner.
65 minutes: DR Congo 2-1 Guinea
Penalty!
Conte, the 18-year-old sub, nearly restores the Guinea lead with his first touch at the near post.
But straight to the other end, Jeanvier brings down Silas.
Another penalty and no need for VAR. Diawara is booked for his protest feeling the fall was soft.
63 minutes: DR Congo 1-1 Guinea
Changes made
Elia comes off for Silas to brighten up matters for DR Congo.
Sylla and Guilavogui come off for Conte and Toure for Guinea.
59 minutes: DR Congo 1-1 Guinea
Cracking corner from Masuaku
The ball is fizzed from the right by the left-footer and a desperate header away from Guinea meets the ball almost under the bar at the near post with the keeper probably going to reach it just behind with a punch.
56 minutes: DR Congo 1-1 Guinea
A moment’s calm again
Let’s hope it doesn’t last.
This half has been showing all the signs of replicating the start of the first period.
53 minutes: DR Congo 1-1 Guinea
The corner comes to nothing
Easily defended by Guinea and cleared.
51 minutes: DR Congo 1-1 Guinea
Free kick deflects just wide
It’s into the wall from Wissa and skirts wide. The keeper probably would have got there if it was inside the post but couldn’t make it across in time to prevent the corner.
49 minutes: DR Congo 1-1 Guinea
Immediately to the other end
Wissa surges through the middle of the Guinea half and releases a pass that is just too strong for the runners ahead.
He’s fouled in the process, though, and picks himself up for the free kick from 25 yards out.
47 minutes: DR Congo 1-1 Guinea
Under way in the second half
And nearly another early Guinea goal.
The ball is sent down the right and an early cross has Bayo swinging his foot at the ball at the near post.
He only hit thin air but had a bright start.
46 minutes: DR Congo 1-1 Guinea
Nigeria remember a fallen hero
"Today's victory over Angola is a poignant reminder of the adamant spirit of Nigerian football. 🇳🇬⚽️ As we celebrate this triumph, we also honor the memory of Late Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji, who tragically left us while playing against Angola 35 years ago. His passion for the… pic.twitter.com/oMYdtPbTHi
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) February 2, 2024
A half full of contradictions
Guinea dominated the possession, but DR Congo seemed to be the more threatening in possession.
A gifted penalty handed Guinea the lead, but Mbemba made up for his rash shoulder barge to hammer home a half-volley to level matters.
The cooling break seemed to kill the half as both sides, after a frantic start, seemed more reluctant to commit bodies forward.
Let’s hope to a return to the first 30 minutes because it was edge-of-your-seat stuff.
Half-time
Guinea forced a late corner but it was comfortably cleared at the near post.
Otherwise, both sides seemed as edgy as they were since the cooling break.
Half-time: DR Congo 1-1 Guinea