From the time DR Congo defeated Ethiopia 3-0 to win their opening tie of the 2016 African Nations Championship (Chan), many bookmakers tipped them to go ahead and lift the title.
The 2009 winners defeated hosts Rwanda 2-1 in extra time after a 1-all draw in the 90 minutes in the quarterfinals on Saturday to edge closer to their second title.
While coach Florent Ibenge badly wants the top prize he also asserts that any other medal will do incase his side misses out on the gold. “We want to leave Rwanda with at least a medal,” Ibenge told a post match press conference.
“Before the championship, we told ourselves we are going to Rwanda and not leaving until February, we have achieved that,” he added. Congo got an early lead through Doxa Gikanji after 12 minutes to silence a fully packed Amahoro Stadium before Rwanda’s Ernest Sugira equalised on 57 minutes.
But with nine minutes to play in extra time, Congo defender Padou Bomounga rose highest to nod home the winner. It was Congo’s first win in Rwanda and the first against the Amavubi in any competition.
“There was alot of talk before the game because of the history of the two sides but we had come to play for a semifinal place not to play Rwanda,” Ibenge said.
“We were never under pressure because of the opponent. The pressure comes from our clubs like TP Mazembe and AS Vita who are doing well on the continent.”
“Because we have picked players from those clubs, there is alot of pressure to perform and replicate their form on the continent,” he added.
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