What You Need to Know
The Democratic Republic of Congo triumphed over Botswana with a decisive 3-0 victory in the final group stage match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco. This win secured Congo’s place in the Round of 16, showcasing their strong performance throughout the tournament. Key players contributed significantly to the victory, demonstrating their potential as contenders in the competition.
Africa. The Democratic Republic of Congo achieved a resounding victory over Botswana, winning 3-0 in the third and final group stage match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco. This win secured their advancement to the Round of 16 in the tournament.
Fiston Mayele, a forward for Pyramids FC, started the match for Congo before leaving the field in the 89th minute.
Congo opened the scoring in the 31st minute through Nathaniel Mboko, who received a brilliant back-heeled pass inside the penalty area and finished with a shot to the left of the goalkeeper into the net. Gaël Kakuta doubled the lead in the 41st minute with a successfully executed penalty kick, and he added a third goal in the 60th minute, capitalizing on a low cross inside the box and firing it powerfully into the net for his second goal of the match.
In the 63rd minute, Fiston Mayele scored a fourth goal, but the referee disallowed it after reviewing the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) due to a handball by the player. With this victory, the Democratic Republic of Congo increased their points tally to 7, finishing second in the group, equal on points with Senegal, who topped the group after defeating Benin 3-0. Botswana, on the other hand, officially exited the tournament, finishing at the bottom of the standings without any points.
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the main international football competition in Africa, organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Established in 1957, it has grown to feature numerous teams from across the continent, showcasing the best of African football talent. The tournament is held every two years, with the 2025 edition taking place in Morocco, highlighting the country’s capacity to host major sporting events.
