Matchday Thread - Guinea v DR Congo

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Guinea and DR Congo will wrap up the weekend’s 2018 World Cup qualifiers when they meet in a Group A clash in Conakry on Sunday evening. The match will be staged at the Stade du 28 Septembre, kick-off at 19h30.

Guinea opened their group stage campaign with a 2-0 loss away to Tunisia in Monastir last month, with goals from Aymen Abdennour and Anis Ben-Hatira seeing the Carthage Eagles to all three points and setting the National Elephants back in their hopes of qualifying for a first World Cup.

DRC had no such troubles in dismissing Libya in their opening group game: a brace from Dieumerci Mbokani and further goals from Jonathan Bolingi and Firmin Mubele saw the Leopards to an emphatic 4-0 victory in Kinshasa which sees them topping the standings.

"We couldn't have wished for a better start," DRC defender Gabriel Zakuani told FIFA.com.

"It was a real confidence boost to win at home by such a large margin and go top of the group - it was ideal! Of course, that match was just one step, and our upcoming match in Guinea is the next one. But one thing is certain: we're heading in the right direction."

National Elephants coach Lappe Bangoura wishes his team had claimed a draw in Tunisia, and sees the next match against the Leopards as another tough assignment.

“Our first game was in Tunisia and a draw there would have been a very good result,” Bangoura told FIFA.com.

“We now face the DR Congo. That means our opening matches are against the favourites. These are two very important matches. But we must not discount Libya. They qualified for the final round because they are a good side.”

The teams have met seven times in official international matches according to FIFA’s statistics, with each claiming three wins against the other. This will be their first meeting in a World Cup qualifier.

The other Group A match this weekend sees Libya and Tunisia meet in Algiers on Friday evening, kick-off at 21h00.    
 

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POS		TEAM	MP	WON	DRAWN	LOST	GF	GA	PTS
1		TUNISIA	2	2	0	0	3	0	6
2		DOCTOR CONGO	1	1	0	0	4	0	3
3		GUINEA GOO GOO G'JOOB	1	0	0	1	0	2	0
4		TEAM GADAFFI	2	0	0	2	0	5	0

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1-0 to the Elephants - no doubt about the penalty 

[Yngwie]

7 hours ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

National Elephants

When African teams have nicknames like the Indomitable Lions or the Super Eagles, Guinea's one isn't particularly flattering!

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Jhesus - Defensive frailities result in loss of two second half goals in three second half minutes. Winner netted by Yannick Bolasie of Everton. First goal looked offside and second was a defensive error between Cilla and Bangtidy. Still the Walrus played from the start (Numero 21) and was kept on for the entire game. Great experience and hopefully ensures that he keeps scoring to keep his place.

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1 hour ago, Yngwie said:

When African teams have nicknames like the Indomitable Lions or the Super Eagles, Guinea's one isn't particularly flattering!

 

Algeria - Les Fennecs (The Foxes)

 

Burkina Faso - Les Etalons (The Stallions)

 

Cameroon - Les Lions (The Indomitable Lions)

 

Cape Verde islands - Tubarões Azuis (Blue Sharks)

 

Congo Brazzaville - Diables Rouges (Red Devils)

 

DR Congo - Les Léopards (The Leopards)

 

Eq Guinea - Nzalang Nacional (National Thunder)

 

Gabon - Les Panthères (The Panthers)

 

Ghana - Black Stars (The Black Stars)

 

Guinea - Syli Nationale (National Elephants)

 

Ivory Coast - Les Éléphants (The Elephants)

 

Mali - Les Aigles (The Eagles)

 

Senegal -Les Lions de la Teranga (The Lions of Teranga)

 

South Africa - Bafana Bafana (Boys Boys or Go Boys, Go Boys)

 

Tunisia - Les Aigles de Carthage (The Carthage Eagles)

 

Zambia - Chipolopolo (The Copper Bullets)

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Apparently the DR Congo Ultras were chanting "Are you Scotland in disguise"

[12th Man]

9 minutes ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

Apparently the DR Congo Ultras were chanting "Are you Scotland in disguise"

What a catty comment

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Yannick Bolasie scored the winning goal as DR Congo came from behind to beat Guinea 2-1 in a 2018 World Cup qualifying match to go top of Group A at the Stade du 28 Septembre on Sunday night.

The home side started the match positively and even took the lead in the 23rd minute courtesy of a penalty-kick goal from Seydouba Soumah, 1-0.

That was, however, as good as it got for Guinea as Dr Congo began to take control of the match after going behind.

Still, for all their possession in the first half the away team could not find the back of the net and trailed 1-0 at half time.

The second half, though, saw the away team turn up the heat even more and they managed to equalise in the 54th minute courtesy of a strike from Neeskens Kebano, 1-1.

Two minutes later DR Congo took the lead when Yannick Bolasie found the back of the net with a clinical finish, 2-1.

The away team continued to control matters, but could not add to the scoreline before the final whistle.

The win sees DR Congo on six points from two matches alongside Tunisia who beat Libya 1-0 on Friday night, but the east African country has a superior goal difference.

The loss for Guinea is their second in as many qualifying matches and sees them at the bottom of Group A on zero points alongside Libya.

Guinea (1) 1 (Soumah 23’)
DR Congo (0) 2 (Kebano 54’, Bolasie 56’)

Teams

Guinea: Yattara, Issiaga Sylla, Conde, Camara, Alseny Bangoura, Idrissa Sylla, Keita, Mara (Sankoh 78’), Soumah (Alkhaly Bangoura 65’), Diallo, Doumbouya.

DR Congo: Matampi, Mutambala, Tisserand, Bompunga (Mulumba 69’), Mpeko, Mbemba, Zakuani, Mubele Ndombe, Kebano (Bokadi 65’), Bolasie (Botaka 78’), Mbokani.    

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https://youtu.be/2S92w8W3vxg

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On the extended highlights but Lonsana had a half chance to put Guinea ahead 2-0 just before half time. Arguable that he should have scored but the goalkeeper also did well. Still Sheep should be less intimidating than Leopards !!