Opposed to Ethiopia this Tuesday, the Democratic Republic of Congo lost after a game with twists and turns (1-2). Ngal’ayel Mukau experienced his first tenure.
A few minutes given to begin his rally, Ngal’ayel Mukau surely could not have imagined that everything would go so quickly for him, established for the very first time this Tuesday in Brazzaville. At the heart of the midfield of the Democratic Republic of Congo, assured of concluding his campaign at the head of his group, he produced a complete performance to start his international career in style. He has not yet been decisive, missing some good opportunities, and slowed down slightly, tired, at the end of the game, but the result was still greatly praised. The collective a little less.
Leader of its group ahead of Tanzania and Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo had to give a reason to celebrate to its supporters, who came in large numbers to the Alphonse Massemba-Débat Stadium in the capital. They were nevertheless too feverish in the first half, and in every sense of the word. Ineffective in front of the cages, like the bar found by Jayembe (20′), the Leopards cracked on the only real Ethiopian opportunity (36′), taking advantage of their only highlight and an error in defense to hit the mark.
Returning from the locker room, the Democratic Republic of Congo pushed again and again, but always faltered in the last gesture. Fiston Mayele notably saw his goal being refused for offside (63′), as well as his teammates gradually losing their composure, as when they began to protest for the time gained by Ethiopia due to repeated injuries. Despite this climate, Dylan Batubinsika snatched the equalizer in added time (93′). The local joy was nevertheless short-lived with, in the process, a second goal for the visitors following a counter-attack (95′).
The Leopards, despite the presence of Ngal’ayel Mukau in the starting lineup, lost (1-2) for the second time in a row. This setback has no consequences for them, already qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco even before the match kicked off.
