DR Congo came from behind to beat Guinea 3-1 and book a semi-final spot at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Mohamed Bayo put Guinea ahead with a 20th-minute penalty after the forward was fouled by Chancel Mbemba, who then fired in from a narrow angle at the other end to equalise seven minutes later.
DR Congo had a penalty of their own in the second half when Julian Jeanvier clipped the legs of Silas and Brentford forward Yoane Wissa converted to give the Leopards the lead with 25 minutes left.
The West Africans had little in response after going behind and the result was sealed when Arthur Masuaku’s free-kick from wide on the left caught out Guinea goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone at his near post.
DR Congo had drawn all four of their previous games in Ivory Coast, beating Egypt on penalties in the last 16, and now prepare for a first semi-final outing since the Central Africans finished third in 2015.
Sebastien Desabre’s side will face the winners of Saturday’s quarter-final between Mali and hosts Ivory Coast (17:00 GMT) in the last four on Wednesday.
- Relive DR Congo’s win over Guinea in Afcon quarter-final
- Lookman fires Nigeria into Afcon semi-finals
A tale of two penalties
Guinea had appeals for a penalty turned down in the opening minute when the ball flicked behind off Mbemba’s hand but, after Wissa had poked wide for DR Congo, the Syli National were awarded a soft spot-kick.
Bayo was under pressure from Mbemba when he hit the turf while attempting to get on the end of Ibrahim Diakite’s cross, and referee Mustapha Ghorbal controversially decided Mbemba’s shoulder in the back was worthy of a foul.
The Video Assistant Referee did not get involved despite Congolese protests and, after a delay, Bayo slotted to the right of centre to notch his third goal at the finals.
However, Mbemba made amends when Masuaku’s corner fell to the former Newcastle centre-back at the far post and he rifled a left-footed shot into the roof of the net.
Facinet Conte spurned a glorious chance to put Guinea back ahead when he could not get a decent connection on the ball after being played through, and a minute later DR Congo had a penalty when Jeanvier carelessly halted Silas’ bustling run forward.
Wissa stuttered in his run-up but found the bottom left-hand corner and Guinea, making their first appearance in the last eight since 2015, struggled to find a response, despite bringing Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy off the bench.
With eight minutes remaining Masuaku put the result beyond doubt when the former West Ham full-back’s left-footed knuckleball shot dipped and swerved past Kone, who had expected a cross and could not keep out the ball despite his despairing dive.
Guirassy did have an injury-time header deflected wide, while Silas could have added a fourth goal but fired over from inside the area.
- Line-ups
- Match Stats
- Live Text
Line-ups
DR Congo
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Mpasi24Kalulu22Mbemba2Inonga26Masuaku18Pickel8Moutoussamy13Elia10Bongonda20Wissa17Bakambu
- 1Mpasi
- 24Kalulu
- 22Mbemba
- 2Inonga
- 26MasuakuBooked at 37mins
- 18Pickel
- 8Moutoussamy
- 13EliaSubstituted forKatompa Mvumpaat 59’minutes
- 10BongondaSubstituted forTshibolaat 84’minutes
- 20WissaSubstituted forKayembeat 84’minutes
- 17BakambuSubstituted forBanzaat 72’minutes
Substitutes
- 4Bayeye
- 5Batubinsika
- 6Tshibola
- 7Diangana
- 11Katompa Mvumpa
- 12Kayembe
- 15Bushiri
- 16Bertaud
- 19Mayele
- 21Siadi
- 23Banza
- 27Mfulu
Guinea
Formation 4-2-3-1
22Koné12Diakité5Diakhaby17Jeanvier3Sylla6Diawara8Keïta7Guilavogui18Camara21Sylla11Bayo
- 22Koné
- 12DiakitéSubstituted forContéat 90+1’minutes
- 5Diakhaby
- 17Jeanvier
- 3Sylla
- 6DiawaraBooked at 64minsSubstituted forGuirassyat 69’minutes
- 8Keïta
- 7GuilavoguiSubstituted forTouréat 59’minutes
- 18Camara
- 21SyllaSubstituted forContéat 59’minutesBooked at 79mins
- 11BayoSubstituted forKamanoat 90+2’minutes
Substitutes
- 2Conté
- 4Sow
- 9Guirassy
- 13Camara
- 14Cissé
- 15Cissé
- 16Camara
- 19Kamano
- 20Konaté
- 23Touré
- 24Kanté
- 25Conté
Referee:Mustapha GhorbalAttendance:33,278
Match Stats
Home TeamDR CongoAway TeamGuineaPossessionHome37%Away63%ShotsHome12Away7Shots on TargetHome3Away3CornersHome3Away4FoulsHome15Away18
Live Text
Post update
Match ends, Congo DR 3, Guinea 1.
- 90’+6′
Full Time
Second Half ends, Congo DR 3, Guinea 1.
- 90’+5′
Post update
Aguibou Camara (Guinea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90’+5′
Post update
Foul by Samuel Moutoussamy (Congo DR).
- 90’+5′
Post update
Attempt missed. Silas Katompa Mvumpa (Congo DR) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Samuel Moutoussamy.
- 90’+4′
Post update
Foul by Antoine Conté (Guinea).
- 90’+4′
Post update
Joris Kayembe (Congo DR) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90’+4′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Julian Jeanvier (Guinea) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Aguibou Camara with a cross.
- 90’+4′
Post update
Corner, Guinea. Conceded by Henock Inonga.
- 90’+4′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Serhou Guirassy (Guinea) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Aguibou Camara with a cross.
- 90’+3′
Post update
Corner, Guinea. Conceded by Aaron Tshibola.
- 90’+3′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Julian Jeanvier (Guinea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Serhou Guirassy.
- 90’+2′
Post update
François Kamano (Guinea) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 90’+2′
Post update
Foul by Samuel Moutoussamy (Congo DR).
- 90’+2′
Substitution
Substitution, Guinea. François Kamano replaces Mohamed Bayo.
- 90’+1′
Substitution
Substitution, Guinea. Antoine Conté replaces Ibrahim Diakité.
- 90’+1′
Post update
Ibrahim Diakité (Guinea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90’+1′
Post update
Foul by Silas Katompa Mvumpa (Congo DR).
- 90′
Post update
Foul by Mohamed Bayo (Guinea).
- 90′
Post update
Chancel Mbemba (Congo DR) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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