Theo Batombo Bongonda of DR Congo celebrates goal with teammates during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON match between DRC and Benin in Rabat, Morocco on 22 December 2025 ©Samuel ShivambuBackpagePix
Tuesday Dec 23, 2025. 16:22
Join AfricanFootball.com for LIVE updates from all 52 matches of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, as 24 teams battle for glory in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January.
Today’s matches:
14h30 – DR Congo 1-0 Benin
17h00 – Senegal v Botswana
19h30 – Nigeria v Tanzania
22h00 – Tunisia v Uganda
Updates:
Full-time: DR Congo 1 Benin 0 – Theo Bongonda’s 16th-minute goal settles a feisty contest in Rabat as the Leopards put three points on the board first up. The Cheetahs need to work on their finishing ahead of the clash with Botswana after not testing the goalkeeper nearly enough on this occasion despite creating a whole host of chances.
90+2′ Fiston Mayele is a fraction away from sealing the win for DR Congo with a fierce strikes that flashes just past the right post.
90′ Tosin should perhaps have done better there. He surges into the box to recive a pass and fires a low shot that produces an easy save out of Mpasi.
84′ Tosin finally has a sniff at goal for the Cheetahs as he collects the ball from a corner and lines up a shot that flies to the left of the target.
80′ Benin have just 10 minutes to rescue something from this match, but they’ve been on the back foot for the last 13 minutes or so.
78′ Bakambu tests Allagbe once more with a header from a free-kick, but the goalkeeper equalto the task as he makes the save.
70′ A chance for DR Congo now as the ball falls to Bakambu inside the box and he gets off a shot that forces a routine save out of Allagbe.
67′ Benin go close again and it’s Tamimou Ouorou this time who threatens to equalise with a rasping effort from distance that fizzes inches over the bar.
66′ That changes within seconds as substitute Romaric Amoussou looks to make an immediate impact with a low shot from range that is comfortably dealt with by Mpasi. At least it was on target.
65′ Very few opportunities have been fashioned in the opening 20 minutes of the second half as the fouls continue stack up.
60′ The foul count now stand at 17 after Masuaku is blown up for a poor challenge.
50′ The goal was been disallowed for offside. Benin breathe a sigh of relief.
49′ Hold your horses. The ref has been summoned to the TV screen by VAR to check for potential offside in the build-up.
48′ Goal! DR Congo 2-0 Benin. The second half is barely two minutes old as the Leopards strike again, witth Cedric Bakambu guiding his header past Allagbe from close range from Nathanael Mbuku’s exquisite cross.
46′ The referee blows his whistle to indicate the start of the second half.
Half-time: DR Congo 1 Benin 0 – The Leopards didn’t create much after Bongonda opened the scoring and Rohr’s side grew in confidence as the half drew to a close, creating numerous chances without really threatening Mpasi’ goal.
45′ The Cheetahs threaten again moments later when Hassane Imourane bursts into the box before flashing a shor just over the crossbar.
44′ Rodolfo Aloko has a sniff at goal as he takes aim from the edge of the box, but his fierce strike lacks accuracy and drifts to the right of the target.
36′ Benin manage their first attempt on target as Aiyegun Tosin makes contact with a cross, but his header from roughly 18 yards out doesn’t trouble Lionel Mpasi, who makes an easy save.
33′ Bongonda pounces on a rebound on the edge of the box and unleashes a shot that flies well over the crossbar.
26′ Dokou tries his luck from range moments later, but his shot comes nowehere near to the target as it sails well over the crossbar.
25′ So close to an equaliser for the Cheetahs! A free-kick sent delivered into the box and Dodo Dokou leaps highest to direct a header inches past the right post.
17′ Goal! DR Congo 1-0 Benin. The latest free-kick proves costly for Benin as it results in the opening goal. Arthur Masuaku’s delivery into the box finds Theo Bongonda, who fires off a quick shot to beat Saturnin Allagbe.
15′ Several free-kicks have already been awarded for over-zealous challenges from both teams.
10′ DR Congo getting the better of the opening exchanges. They’ve already made three forays into the opposition box, none of which have resulted in shots at goal.
1′ We are underway in this Group D match at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat.
While the vast majority of Gernot Rohr’s squad ply their trade overseas, only FC St Pauli striker Andreas Hountondji plays in one of Europe’s top-five leagues.
Benin are making just their fifth appearance on Africa’s biggest stage and their first since 2019. After bowing out at the group stages in 2004, 2008 and 2010, the Cheetahs produced their best performance in Egypt six years ago when they made it to the quarter-finals.
DR Congo have a strong starting XI which includes four Premier League players, while they are marshalled by the vastly experienced Chancel Mbemba, who recently won his 100th cap. The Leopards will be buoyed by their victory over Nigeria last month in the CAF playoff final for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and they’re hoping for another deep AFCON run after reaching the semi-finals in the previous edition.
DR Congo v Benin starting line-ups:
DR Congo: L. Mpasi, A. Wan-Bissaka, C. Mbemba, A. Tuanzebe, A. Masuaku, S. Moutoussamy, T. Bongonda, N. Sadiki, E. Kayembe, N. Mbuku, C. Bakambu.
Benin: S. Allagbe, R. Moumini, O. Verdon, Y. Roche, T. Ouorou, S. D’Almeida, H. Imourane, J. Dossou, D. Dokou, A. Tosin, R. Aloko.