The Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo imposed their rhythm on the Warriors of Zimbabwe, winning 2-1 in a match played on September 28. This encounter was part of the second day of qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) to be held in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Despite being boosted by their spectacular comeback against Sierra Leone (3-2) in the first day, the Zimbabweans were quickly brought back to reality by pragmatic and well-organized Congolese players.
Before the kickoff, a moving tribute was paid to the 17 victims of the tragic Kenge crash. For this crucial meeting in Harare, Sébastien Desabre made three changes to his starting lineup compared to the first day: Masuaku, Edo Kayembe, and Bongonda were replaced by Joris Kayembe, Ngal'ayel Mukau, and Junior Kadile, the latter making his first start after his remarkable entry against Equatorial Guinea on September 24.
The Congolese team dominated the game from the start, but struggled to create clear chances in front of Elvis Chipezeze's goal. However, their pressure eventually paid off. At the 30th minute, Yoane Wissa scored the opening goal after a mistake by the Zimbabwean goalkeeper, marking his second goal in these qualifiers (1-0).
The Warriors tried to react but were caught off guard by a quick counter-attack. Wissa served Samuel Moutoussamy, who calmly scored the second goal (2-0). This was the score at halftime. In the second half, Zimbabwe pushed hard to reduce the deficit but faced a remarkable performance by goalkeeper Matthieu Epolo.
Despite tactical adjustments on both sides, the score remained unchanged until stoppage time. In the final moments of the match, the Congolese defense conceded a goal: after a first save by Epolo, Marshall Munetsi scored for the Warriors, but it was too little, too late (2-1).
With this valuable away win, the DR Congo tops Group E with 6 points. Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea share second place with 3 points each, following Equatorial Guinea's 1-0 win over Sierra Leone. In November, the DR Congo will have the opportunity to secure its ticket to the final phase if it successfully negotiates its duel against Sierra Leone.
The Congolese team will travel to South Africa for two friendly matches against Uganda on October 2 and 5, with a sense of confidence after this historic win on Zimbabwean soil. The team will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for the next challenges.
Key points
- DR Congo's Leopards secured a 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe's Warriors in a CAN 2027 qualifier match.
- The win puts DR Congo at the top of Group E with 6 points.
- The team will face Sierra Leone in November with a chance to secure its ticket to the final phase.
