Carly Ekongo’s 86th-minute strike ensured Congo began their fifth African Nations Championship (CHAN) with a 1-1 draw against Sudan on Tuesday evening.
Musa Hussien gave Sudan the lead in the 29th minute but Ekongo’s late strike ensured that Congo begun their campaign with a point they will welcome considering their opponents had a better game.
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Salah Adil headed wide from close range in the 10th minute, while Abdel Raouf Yagoub pulled the strings from midfield. Sudan’s dominance saw them open the scoring on the half-hour mark when a double effort from Hussien, his first blocked by Samba, saw the striker pounce on the rebound and calmly slot the ball into the bottom corner from close range, putting Sudan 1-0 up.
Congo responded through Chadrac Osseby and Charles Atipo, both coming close before the break. However, the Red Devils struggled to find rhythm in the first half, trailing 1-0 at the interval.
Head coach Barthélemy Ngatsono introduced Ekongo, Grace Mavoungou and Grace Nsemi in a triple substitution on the hour mark but it was Sudan who continued to look dangerous. The Kwesi Appiah coached side came agonizingly close to doubling their lead when Mazin Simbo’s header was brilliantly saved by Samba, keeping Congo in the contest.
That stop proved crucial. Just four minutes later, Congo drew level. After sustained pressure and a quick exchange in the Sudanese box, Ekongo latched onto a loose ball and smashed home a low finish from close range, sending the Congolese bench into wild celebration.
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