In a tightly contested match, DR Congo edged past Benin 1-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations 2025 opener at the Al-Barid Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. Theo Bongonda’s 16th-minute goal proved decisive, as he capitalized on a defensive mistake by Benin. The goal was expertly set up by Arthur Masuaku.
Despite Benin’s dominance in possession, they struggled to create clear scoring opportunities. DR Congo’s goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi made some impressive saves to keep Benin at bay. Cedric Bakambu had a second-half goal ruled out for offside, and Benin’s attacks failed to yield an equalizer.
Coach Sebastien Desabre praised his team’s pragmatic approach, saying they “absorbed pressure and hit on the counter”. Bongonda acknowledged his side’s performance wasn’t top-notch, saying they “weren’t great but got the three points”.
Match Stats:
– Score: DR Congo 1-0 Benin
– Goal: Theo Bongonda (16′)
– Venue: Al-Barid Stadium, Rabat
– Possession: Benin (60%), DR Congo (40%)
– Shots on Target: DR Congo (3), Benin (2)
Story by: Andrews Addotey
