AFCON Highlights: Champions held as DR Congo wins

Day 3 of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations saw champions La Cote d’Ivoire held to a goalless draw by Togo. It was the opening game of Group C.

With a star-studded team that had the likes of Manchester United’s Eric Bailly, the Elephants could not break a Togo side that had clubless Emmanuel Adebayor as captain.

The match ended without either side getting the ball at the back of the opponents’ net. The two West Africans, as a result, shared the spoils at the Stade d’Oyem. But the second match was not without drama.

Two-time winners DR Congo pipped 1976 winners Morocco 1-0, though the Central Africans went a man down – after Lomalisa Mutambala got the first red card of the tourney.

Junior Kabananga scored eight minutes after the break to send the Leopards to the top of Group C. The Atlas Lions dominated play but lacked fire power in front of goal.

Coach Hervé Renard, who has won the tournament twice with Zambia in 2012 and Cote d’Ivoire in 2015, will scratch his head as he looks to find a strategy in his side’s next game.

Morocco become one of the two nations, so far, to have lost a match at the 2017 Cup of Nations. Their next game will be gainst the Hawks of Togo on Friday. On Tuesday, the Black Stars will take on Uganda’s Cranes while Egypt take on Mali later in the day.