AFCON recap: DR Congo beat Zimbabwe but Tunisia held to a draw by Zimbabwe

Democratic Republic of the Congo secure their second straight win in Group E, with striker Yoanne Wissa scoring again.

Yoane Wissa scored the first goal and created the second as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) spoiled a Zimbabwe homecoming by winning a ۲۰۲۷ Africa Cup of Nations qualifier ۲-۱ in Harare.

The ۳۰-year-old Newcastle United striker struck in the ۳۰th minute, poking a loose ball into the net after goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze allowed a cross to slip from his grasp in the qualifying match on Monday.

DRC, who secured a historic last-۳۲ finish at the ۲۰۲۶ FIFA World Cup, went further ahead in first-half added time when a Wissa pass sent Samuel Moutoussamy through to score.

After being outplayed in the opening half by a team ۸۹ places higher in the FIFA world rankings, Zimbabwe improved after half-time, with Marshall Munetsi scoring a ۹۳rd-minute consolation goal.

Zimbabwe last played at home in November ۲۰۲۱ before the Harare venue was deemed unsuitable for international fixtures, leading to lengthy renovations.

DRC, whose second of two AFCON titles came ۵۲ years ago, top Group E with a maximum six points after launching their campaign with a ۲-۰ home victory over Equatorial Guinea.

Botswana hold Tunisia to draw

Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea, who meet twice in November, have three points each, and Sierra Leone are pointless.

A first-minute goal from Loren Zuniga earned Equatorial Guinea a ۱-۰ win over Sierra Leone in Cameroon’s capital, Yaounde.

Equatorial Guinea are among the ۱۱ of the ۴۸ qualifiers for the AFCON group stage who must host matches at neutral venues as they lack an international-standard stadium.

Central African Republic are another “homeless” nation. They fell ۱-۰ to Burkina Faso in Group F in the Moroccan commercial hub of Casablanca. Aboubacar Camara netted the second-half winner.

Struggling Tunisia were held at home for the second time in four days, drawing ۲-۲ with Botswana in Rades near Tunis.

Tunisia looked set for a first competitive win this year when Hazem Mastouri scored either side of half-time after Botswana had taken the lead.

But the minnows from Southern Africa – ۹۰ places below Tunisia in the world rankings – equalised on the hour through a delicate lob from substitute Lebogang Ditsele.

It was the second successive ۲-۲ draw for Botswana after sharing the points in Libya last week, and they remain top of Group H on goals scored ahead of Tunisia.