DR Congo defeated Equatorial Guinea 2-0 in the first Group Stage match of the African Cup of Nations qualification, played on 24 September 2026. The hosts took control early and never looked back, with two goals separating the sides by the final whistle.
Chancel Mbemba opened the scoring in the fourth minute, a quick strike that set the tone for what followed. Equatorial Guinea tried to respond but could not find an equaliser, and Congo grew into the game as the minutes passed.
By then the visitors had picked up a yellow card through Jannick Buyla on the half-hour mark, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka went off shortly after for a booking of his own. Marvin Anieboh came on for one side while Pepín Machín and Jannick Buyla were among the changes at the break.
Yoane Wissa doubled the advantage in the 72nd minute, and from that point there was little doubt about the outcome. More substitutions followed, with Edo Kayembe, Santiago Eneme, Dorian Hanza, Nathanael Mbuku and Wissa himself all involved in the closing stages.
Congo had nothing to do all evening in terms of finding space, recording 120 attacks compared with 58 for the visitors. They held 57 per cent possession, registered five shots on target to two, and completed 498 passes against 394 for Equatorial Guinea.
The result keeps Congo in contention in the group, while Equatorial Guinea now face a tougher path. The hosts have been unpredictable in recent matches, losing to England and Colombia but beating Uzbekistan, yet this performance showed greater control than most.
