Congo comeback seals win that sends Guinea home
DR Congo will join Nigeria in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations after coming froma goal down to defeat Guinea 3-1 in their quarter-final clash at Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium.
Chancel Mbemba, Yoane Wissa and Arthur Masuaku scored the goals for Congo after a somewhat soft penalty had allowed Guinea to take the lead after 20 minutes.
Mbemba, who had given the penalty away when he nudged Mohamed Bayo over in the box, more than made up for his error by scoring the equaliser from a tight angle seven minutes later.
The referee then awarded a penalty to Congo after a trip in the box on 65 minutes and Wissa confidently scored before a brilliant free-kick near the touchline eight minutes from time from Masuaku sealed the result.
DR Congo will play either host nation Cote d'Ivoire or Mali, who play their quarter-final on Sunday (AEDT).
It was a lively start from Guinea, which quickly broke into its opponent's penalty area and shouted for a handball when the ball bounced off the upper arm of Mbemba, with VAR ruling the contact was innocent.
Miscommunication between Guinea keeper Ibrahim Kone and defender Mouctar Diakhaby nearly spelled danger, both thinking the other had a handle on a loose ball, but Wissa could not capitalise on the early chance and fired wide.
Samuel Moutoussamy tried next for DR Congo, finding himself in plenty of space but only able to muster a weak effort, Diakhaby redeeming himself with the clearance.
Bayo toppled down inside the 18-yard box after making contact with Mbemba and, after some time, Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal pointed to the spot despite protests from the DR Congo players and manager Sebastien Desabre.
Bayo did not waste the chance, sending Lionel Mpasi the wrong way with a strike to the top-right corner for the opener.
The sides were back on level terms when Guinea could not fully clear Masuaku’s corner and it proved costly when Marseille man Mbemba reacted quickly and lashed home the equaliser.
The Leopards had a chance to take a late first-half lead when Masuaku floated in a free-kick from the left touchline, narrowly missing Cedric Bakambu’s outstretched boot.
DR Congo had the better early chances after the break, but neither side could find a way to break the deadlock by the hour mark, when both managers made changes and Guinea substitute Facinet Conte scuppered his chance to make an instant impact.
Less than a minute later, DR Congo’s own substitute Silas Katompa Mvumpa was brought down by Jeanvier and Wissa stepped up, calmly powering past Ibrahim Kone as his side took the lead.
It was all over when Masuaku’s 82nd-minute free-kick dipped under the crossbar and in after he'd spotted the Guinea goalkeeper off his line and superbly guided the ball beyond his flailing attempt to recover.
