Angola beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 100-68 in the World Cup on 27 August 2026. The hosts made it clear from the opening tip-off that they intended to control the tempo. And here's the thing — that control never really slipped, not even when DR Congo tried to push the pace in the second quarter.
Angola's shooting was the story of the night. They hit 11 three-pointers from 35 attempts, while DR Congo managed just 9 from 30. The difference wasn't just in the numbers; it was in the confidence behind each shot. Angola players moved without the ball, found space, and took their time before releasing. To be fair, DR Congo's defence looked tired after their trip to Ivory Coast earlier in the week.
The most telling statistic came in the turnover column. Angola committed only 9 turnovers throughout the match, while DR Congo coughed up 24. That's 15 extra possessions, roughly 20 points. By then the game was already running away from the visitors. DR Congo had nothing to do all evening when Angola switched to zone defence in the third period and simply refused to let them penetrate.
Angola's rebounding advantage was equally decisive. They pulled down 34 rebounds to DR Congo's 27, with 12 on the offensive end. Those second chances didn't just add points — they killed momentum. DR Congo could win individual battles for loose balls, but Angola's system ensured they won the aggregate. The old head in Angola's backcourt settled the game down when the visitors tried to rally in the final five minutes.
Looking at the broader picture, this result changes nothing in the standings yet — both sides have one game and two points between them. But it tells you something about where Angola stands. They beat Bulgaria 82-75 on 20 August, lost to Slovakia 73-63 the day before, and have been winning consistently against African opposition. DR Congo, meanwhile, lost to Cameroon 77-68 and Ivory Coast 75-63 in their previous outings. The gap between them is real, even if the table doesn't show it yet.
