Theo Batombo Bongonda of DR Congo celebrates goal during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON match between DRC and Benin in Rabat, Morocco on 22 December 2025 ©Weam MostafaBackpagePix
Tuesday Dec 23, 2025. 16:49
DR Congo came out on top in a feisty encounter at the Al Medina Stadium after they beat Benin 1-0 in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations opener on Tuesday, December 23.
Theo Bongonda’s 16th-minute goal separated the two teams in Rabat as Sebastien Desabre’s side put early pressure on Group D favourites Senegal, who face Botswana a couple of hours later.
Benin bossed possession in the first half, but there was very little flow to the game as both sets of players didn’t hold back in their challenges which resulted in several free-kicks being awarded.
One such set-piece led to the opener after just 16 minutes as DR Congo got off to a flying start when Bongonda latched onto Arthur Masuaku’s delivery and fired off a quick shot inside the box to break the deadlock.
The Cheetahs almost hit back nine minutes later from a free-kick of their own which was met by Dodo Dokou, who steered his towering header narrowly past the right post.
Gernot Rohr’s side managed their first attempt on target in the 36th minute, although Aiyegun Tosin’s header from about 18 yards out lacked the necessary power to beat Lionel Mpasi.
Benin created another two chances just before half-time, but neither of them tested Mpasi as Rodolfo Aloko flashed a shot wide of the right post from the edge of the box on 44 minutes and Hassane Imourane skied his effort from inside the area moments later.
The Leopards thought they had scored again two minutes after the restart when Cedric Bakambu headed home Nathanael Mbuku’s exquisite cross from close range, but the goal was ruled out for offside following an intervention by VAR.
Following a quiet spell, the Cheetahs started to get their act together and pushed for an equaliser, with Romaric Amoussou forcing Mpasi into a save after firing a low shot at goal on 66 minutes before Tamimou Ouorou fizzed a rasping effort narrowly over the crossbar from distance moments later.
Bakambu then tested Allagbe twice in the space of eight minutes, first with a strike from inside the box and hitting the target again with a header from free-kick.
Tosin should perhaps have done better when he raced onto a pass inside the box and got off a low shot that was comfortably saved by Mpasi in the 90th minute.
Fiston Mayele could have sealed the win in stoppage time after trying his luck from range, but his fierce strike flew inches past the right post.
DR Congo (1) 1 (Bongonda 16′)
Benin (0) 0
DR Congo: L. Mpasi, A. Wan-Bissaka, C. Mbemba, A. Tuanzebe, A. Masuaku (J. Kayembe 68′), S. Moutoussamy, T. Bongonda (M. Elia 68′), N. Sadiki, E. Kayembe (N. Mukau 55′), N. Mbuku (B. Cipenga 85′), C. Bakambu (F. Mayele 85′).
Benin: S. Allagbe, R. Moumini, O. Verdon, Y. Roche, T. Ouorou, S. D’Almeida (A. Samadou 82′), H. Imourane, J. Dossou (R. Amoussou 63′), D. Dokou, A. Tosin (O. Tessilimi 90+1′), R. Aloko.