DR Congo showcased the power of precision and patience as they edged closer to the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 with a 2-0 win over Angola at Nairobi’s Moi International Sports Centre on Thursday night.
It was not open-play flair that decided this Group A clash, but the art of the set-piece — two almost identical Basiala deliveries, two ruthless headers, and a lesson in tactical execution. Jephté Kitambala opened the scoring on 58 minutes, before substitute Jonathan Mokonzi sealed the result just 12 minutes later, both finishing with unerring accuracy from Basiala’s whipped balls into the danger zone.
The victory, coming hours after Morocco’s 3-1 triumph over Zambia, sets up a tantalising Sunday showdown between DR Congo and Morocco that could define the group’s fate. For Angola, the defeat brought a goalless end to their campaign, their promise undone by wasteful finishing and the Leopards’ defensive discipline.
The first half hinted at a tight contest. Angola pressed for the breakthrough, with Beni Jetour and Kaporal testing Brudel Efonge from distance, while the Leopards found half-chances through Kitambala, Ibrahim Matobo, and Oscar Kabwit. But the game’s real drama was reserved for after the interval.
Basiala’s first act of brilliance came from a 58th-minute free-kick, the winger’s pinpoint delivery allowing Kitambala to glide in front of his marker and steer a header into the bottom corner. Angola, chasing a result to stay alive in the tournament, responded by throwing on Jó Paciência, Mafuta, and Gogoró — and almost levelled when Vidinho’s header was saved brilliantly by Efonge.
But their momentum was snuffed out in the 70th minute. Another Basiala set-piece, this time from a corner, found Mokonzi ghosting to the near post to nod in the Leopards’ second. It was a near carbon copy of the opener — proof that DR Congo’s training-ground rehearsals had paid off in full.
From there, it was game management at its finest. Osée Ndombele and Lolendo Mansanga led a backline that repelled everything Angola could muster. Neblú, Angola’s substitute goalkeeper, prevented further damage with a fine late stop from Matobo, but the points — and perhaps qualification — were already Congo’s.
For head coach Daouda Lupembe, the win was as much about control as it was about scoring. His side absorbed pressure, struck clinically when the opportunity arose, and never allowed Angola to turn the match into an end-to-end contest.
Now, all eyes turn to Sunday. DR Congo face Morocco in what feels like a knockout tie before the knockouts, with Kenya’s clash against Zambia potentially shaping the rest of Group A’s destiny. For the Leopards, the message is clear — keep the set-piece magic flowing, and the path to the semi-finals is wide open.
