The Leopards had sharpened their claws. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) dreamed of cutting up a group of boys who had until now been a little too insolent. Fate wanted it otherwise. Saturday February 10 at the Félix-Houphouët-Boigny stadium in Abidjan, South Africa ended up overthrowing the Leopards in the small final of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) on penalties (0-0, 6 -5 to tabs).
7:43 p.m. The stadium is slowly but surely filling up. 21,975 spectators (out of a capacity of 29,000 seats) came to see this poster, the penultimate poster of the CAN, and they are almost all for the DRC. The Leopards did not reproduce their powerful gesture made during the previous match during their anthem to denounce the violence in the east of their country and the silence surrounding it. This time they had their hand on their heart, but not on their mouth, nor two fingers on their temple in the shape of a gun.
8 p.m., here we go. The songs of DRC supporters transport Abidjan to Kinshasa. From the first seconds, the Leopards are on the attack. But very quickly, Bafana Bafana imposed their game almost blindly. The rainbow selection has a rare characteristic on the continent: a very strong club spirit, since ten of its internationals play for Mamelodi Sundowns, the best South African team, based in Pretoria. On the other hand, it’s quite the opposite: of the 24 Leopards selected, only one plays in the DRC and seventeen were born abroad, mainly in Europe.
Overwhelming heat
10th minute. South Africa multiplies the approaches in the opposing area, and continues to combine naturally, it is as if the players are communicating telepathically. Not much happens. Theo Bongonda tries to create rhythm and acceleration in a fairly closed duel. The public understood and seemed to push the Leopards. Defender Chancel Mbemba, for the moment, is making multiple bad choices.
Bad omen ? Faced with South African advances, the Congolese are forced to defend with ten men, dominated, in front of the eyes of Moïse Katumbi, president of the All-powerful Mazembe, a legendary Congolese club and candidate for the presidential election in December 2023. On the touchline, the coach of the DRC, Frenchman Sébastien Desabre, fidgets, nervous. Finally, the Congolese attack wakes up, increases the incursions but the South African defense still holds.
Half time. A shot on target everywhere. Boredom is not far away, but how can you play, even for a third place in the CAN, in such tedious heat (36°C felt for 80% humidity)? We then say to ourselves that the two teams can still be on the field for a long time without anything happening…
The DRC wanted a victory “to give joy”
Reprise. The Leopards are hungry and are starting to overflow from the sides. They become threatening: shot from Simon Banza which skims the crossbar; shot from Grady Diangana which ends up in the stands. It’s the DRC’s turn to camp with the South Africans. The opportunities multiply, Bafana Bafana respond, the match comes to life. A woman continues to scream “go Bafana”. She is indeed the only one.
65th. South Africa is very close to breaking: the Leopards miss two chances to take the advantage. The public is there, experiencing the match intensely, encouraging the DRC. A contentious tackle in the box? He asks for “the video.”
75th. Another huge miss for the Congolese: Mbemba, alone within six meters, misses his shot. Sébastien Desabre continues to bring in fresher players. The DRC wants this third place, this bronze medal, like in 2015. For the Leopards, this small final has something “special”: a victory to “give joy and smiles (…) to all those who suffer in Congo,” underlined Sébastien Desabre before the match.
85th. The DRC is playing with fire and failing to realize the countless opportunities. At the same time, South Africa is not far from opening the scoring. Just before the 90th minute, Fiston Mayele, after a chest cushion, crosses his shot too far which fails near the left post of Bafana Bafana. Three minutes later, on a sublime cross from Mayele, Yoane Wissa opened his foot too much. Yet another wasted opportunity. The regrets may be eternal…
“Number 3 or 4, it’s the same thing.”
End of the match. 0-0. For the small final, there is no overtime, the medal will be decided by penalties. The first to step forward is the South African Teboho Mokoena: his shot crashes into the right post. The turn of the captain of the DRC arrives, the last shooter. If Chancel Mbemba scores, the Leopards win the small final. But Ronwen Williams stops the shot, the goalkeeper had already stopped four balls against Cape Verde in the quarter-finals. His parade comes at the right time. It’s the turn of the Congolese Meschack Elia. Williams is too strong and against the leather. South Africa wins again on penalties. Third, as in 2000.
And to think that his Belgian coach, Hugo Broos, winner in 2017 of the CAN with Cameroon, had assured the day before the confrontation: “If you ask my opinion, this match should not be played. If you’re number 3 or number 4 tomorrow, to me it’s exactly the same thing. ” Really ?
