DR Congo finished top of Group B of the Total African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2020 after beating Niger 2-1 in Yaounde on Monday.
A 90th minute howler by Mena goalkeeper Abdoul Razak Halidou allowed the Leopards to win the match and end their opponents hopes of advancing.
With the score at 1-1, Niger was hoping to win to qualify for the knock-out stage of the tournament until Halidou’s attempt to clear a back pass ended as a gift to Leopards striker Masasi Obenza who gratefully tapped in for the winner.
The victory for DR Congo means they finish top of the group with seven points, Congo take the second position with four points while Libya and Niger are tied at the bottom of the group with two points apiece
The Motema Pembe striker broke the deadlock by heading in a long ball from the right to spark the hopes of the two-time champions.
DR Congo will play hosts Cameroon at the Japoma Stadium in Douala on Saturday while Mali will stay in Yaounde to take on Congo at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium also on Saturday.
Congo have defeated Libya 1-0 to qualify for the quarter final stage at the on-going Total Africa Nations Championship 2020 in Cameroon.
The explosive Group B match played at the Japoma Stadium in Douala saw the two teams come all out in search of early goals, but the first half ended goalless.
Libya, the 2014 CHAN winners fought back strongly after conceding the goal, while Congo defended in numbers. Salah Fakhron and Mohamed Makkari had their shots saved by the Congolese goalkeeper.
Congo who is making their third appearance in the CHAN tournament will now face Mali in the first quarter-final clash on January 30th in Yaounde, while DR Congo who came out top of Group B will battle Cameroon in the second quarter-final to be played at the Japoma Stadium in Douala the same day.
