Silas Katompa Mvumpa rescued DR Congo’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign by scoring a late equalizer in their 1-1 draw against Morocco on Sunday.
Morocco seemed poised to secure a second consecutive victory at the 2023 AFCON and advance to the next round after taking the lead just six minutes into the game. Hakim Ziyech’s corner found Achraf Hakimi, who skillfully volleyed the ball into the net.
DR Congo had a chance to level the score when they were awarded a penalty late in the first half, but Cedric Bakambu’s shot hit the post. However, the Leopards did not give up and dominated the second half. Their perseverance paid off when Silas Katompa Mvumpa capitalized on Meschack Elias’ low cross and scored the equalizer.
With the draw, Morocco now has four points from two matches, while DR Congo has two points in Group F and is also aiming for a spot in the next round.
Bringing Silas on in the 64th minute was a brilliant move by coach Sebastien Desabre. The player from Stuttgart posed a significant threat as Congo pushed for an equalizer and eventually delivered in the 76th minute. Not only that, but Silas also fought hard for the ball and constantly sought ways to challenge the Morocco defense.
However, Silas will be left wondering what could have been if he had managed to convert his penalty towards the end of the first half. Overall, his performance was rather poor. His passing was terrible; he struggled to find space, and for most of the match, he was hardly a real threat.
Morocco will aim to recover from their slip-up on Sunday when they face Zambia in their final group stage game on January 24. On the other hand, DR Congo will hope to secure their first victory when they take on Tanzania on the same day.
