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CAF African Nations Championship FINAL
DR Congo (1) 3
Mali (0) 0
(Amahoro Stadium, Rwanda)
DR Congo (1) 3
Mali (0) 0
(Amahoro Stadium, Rwanda)
The Democratic Republic of the Congo took home the African Nations Championship (CHAN) for the second time at the weekend with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Mali.
Played at the Amahoro Stadium in Rwanda’s capital Kigali, Sunday’s final went as most pundits had predicted, with tournament favourites DRC opening the scoring on 29 minutes through Meshack Elia, whose curling shot from the left had Mali ‘keeper Djigui Diarra grasping at thin air.
Mali missed an early opportunity to equalise when Abdoulaye Diarra failed to react quickly enough to a Moussa Sissoko shot that rebounded towards him inches from the goal line.
But it was DRC who were enjoying the bulk of the chances, with scorer Elia looking most likely to increase their lead. The Malian defence did well to hold out until the interval just a single goal behind.
The second half began much like the first had ended, with the DRC players seemingly determined not to just sit on their lead. But it took until the 67th minute for the Mali resolve to crack.
Elia latched onto a through ball from Yannick Bangala and waltzed past what remained of the Malian defence before rounding the ‘keeper and slotting home into an empty net.
Going further behind seemed to spur Mali into action, and Lassana Samake spurned a good opportunity to get them back into the game. But victory for the Leopards was assures after 80 minutes when Jonathan Bolingi’s finish from an Elia assist sealed the title.
Mali launched a spirited campaign to restore respectability in the closing 10 minutes, but DRC’s central defensive pairing of skipper Joel Kimwaki and Merveille Bope have pride too, and it was chiefly they who stifled Mail’s ambitions. Mali had scored just five goals en route to the final, so it was no real surprise that they were unable to break down a well-organised DRC back line.
DRC talisman Meshack Elia’s performance capped a tournament in which the 20-year-old bagged three awards.
The winger was named the Man of the Match for the final, and his ability to run past defenders, decision-making and reading of the game also put him above other contenders for the Man of the Competition award. He was also the tournament’s Top Scorer with four goals.
“I am so happy that I won these accolades. I want to thank my teammates because I did not do this alone. It was a collective effort,” said the delighted Elia.
He scored a goal against Ethiopia in DRC’s 3-0 Group B opener before netting again in their 4-2 win over Angola.
DR Congo coach Florent Ibenge said: “He is a very exceptional player that creates chances and scores goals. We are happy for him that he won these trophies. It is also good for the team as a whole.”
Meanwhile, Serge N’guessan of Ivory Coast was awarded the Goal of the Tournament for his wonder strike from the half-way line against Cameroon in the quarterfinal at Huye Stadium in Southern Rwanda. Ivory Coast, the tournament’s second top scorers with ten goals, also had the consolation of finishing the tournament third, having defeated Guinea by two goals to one in the 3rd/4th place match
Caf also named the tournament’s best XI and 10 substitutes who were outstanding throughout a three-week tournament that, unlike the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), is designed exclusively for players who play in domestic leagues. The AFCON and CHAN are played biennially in alternate years.
Played at the Amahoro Stadium in Rwanda’s capital Kigali, Sunday’s final went as most pundits had predicted, with tournament favourites DRC opening the scoring on 29 minutes through Meshack Elia, whose curling shot from the left had Mali ‘keeper Djigui Diarra grasping at thin air.
Mali missed an early opportunity to equalise when Abdoulaye Diarra failed to react quickly enough to a Moussa Sissoko shot that rebounded towards him inches from the goal line.
But it was DRC who were enjoying the bulk of the chances, with scorer Elia looking most likely to increase their lead. The Malian defence did well to hold out until the interval just a single goal behind.
The second half began much like the first had ended, with the DRC players seemingly determined not to just sit on their lead. But it took until the 67th minute for the Mali resolve to crack.
Elia latched onto a through ball from Yannick Bangala and waltzed past what remained of the Malian defence before rounding the ‘keeper and slotting home into an empty net.
Going further behind seemed to spur Mali into action, and Lassana Samake spurned a good opportunity to get them back into the game. But victory for the Leopards was assures after 80 minutes when Jonathan Bolingi’s finish from an Elia assist sealed the title.
Mali launched a spirited campaign to restore respectability in the closing 10 minutes, but DRC’s central defensive pairing of skipper Joel Kimwaki and Merveille Bope have pride too, and it was chiefly they who stifled Mail’s ambitions. Mali had scored just five goals en route to the final, so it was no real surprise that they were unable to break down a well-organised DRC back line.
DRC talisman Meshack Elia’s performance capped a tournament in which the 20-year-old bagged three awards.
The winger was named the Man of the Match for the final, and his ability to run past defenders, decision-making and reading of the game also put him above other contenders for the Man of the Competition award. He was also the tournament’s Top Scorer with four goals.
“I am so happy that I won these accolades. I want to thank my teammates because I did not do this alone. It was a collective effort,” said the delighted Elia.
He scored a goal against Ethiopia in DRC’s 3-0 Group B opener before netting again in their 4-2 win over Angola.
DR Congo coach Florent Ibenge said: “He is a very exceptional player that creates chances and scores goals. We are happy for him that he won these trophies. It is also good for the team as a whole.”
Meanwhile, Serge N’guessan of Ivory Coast was awarded the Goal of the Tournament for his wonder strike from the half-way line against Cameroon in the quarterfinal at Huye Stadium in Southern Rwanda. Ivory Coast, the tournament’s second top scorers with ten goals, also had the consolation of finishing the tournament third, having defeated Guinea by two goals to one in the 3rd/4th place match
Caf also named the tournament’s best XI and 10 substitutes who were outstanding throughout a three-week tournament that, unlike the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), is designed exclusively for players who play in domestic leagues. The AFCON and CHAN are played biennially in alternate years.
Best XI
Goalkeeper: Ley Matampi (DR Congo)
Defenders: Abdoul Karim Dante (Mali), Joel Kimwaki (DR Congo), Cheick Ibrahim Comara (Ivory Coast), Mohamed Youla (Guinea)
Midfielders: Ibrahima Sory Sankhon (Guinea), Meshack Elia (DR Congo), Serge N’Guessan (Ivory Coast), Hamidou Sinayoko (Mali)
Forwards: Jonathan Bolingi (DR Congo), Sekou Koita (Mali)
Substitutes: Badra Ali Sangare (Ivory Coast), Djigui Diarra (Mali), Lomalisa Mutambala (DR Congo), Heritier Luvumbu (DR Congo), Daouda Camara (Guinea), Aka Essis (Ivory Coast), Ernest Sugira (Rwanda), Ahmed Akaichi (Tunisia), Elvis Chisom Chikatara (Nigeria), Christopher Katongo (Zambia)
Defenders: Abdoul Karim Dante (Mali), Joel Kimwaki (DR Congo), Cheick Ibrahim Comara (Ivory Coast), Mohamed Youla (Guinea)
Midfielders: Ibrahima Sory Sankhon (Guinea), Meshack Elia (DR Congo), Serge N’Guessan (Ivory Coast), Hamidou Sinayoko (Mali)
Forwards: Jonathan Bolingi (DR Congo), Sekou Koita (Mali)
Substitutes: Badra Ali Sangare (Ivory Coast), Djigui Diarra (Mali), Lomalisa Mutambala (DR Congo), Heritier Luvumbu (DR Congo), Daouda Camara (Guinea), Aka Essis (Ivory Coast), Ernest Sugira (Rwanda), Ahmed Akaichi (Tunisia), Elvis Chisom Chikatara (Nigeria), Christopher Katongo (Zambia)
