Already-eliminated Botswana faced the Democratic Republic of the Congo in their final Group D match at the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, played at the Stade Al Medina in Rabat on December 30. DR Congo went into the game needing a strong performance to secure progression, while Botswana were playing for pride after their early exit from the tournament.
DR Congo started aggressively and immediately applied pressure. In the 5th minute Gaël Kakuta tried his luck from outside the box with a left-footed strike that drifted just wide of the right post. Six minutes later, Meschack Elia forced Botswana goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko into a sharp save at the bottom left corner after being set up by Fiston Mayele. Botswana responded shortly after when Gilbert Baruti unleashed a right-footed effort from distance, but it flew harmlessly over the crossbar.
The breakthrough came in the 31st minute. Kakuta picked out Nathanaël Mbuku in the box, and the forward finished calmly with a left-footed effort into the bottom right corner to give DR Congo a deserved lead. Things soon got worse for Botswana when Thabo Leinanyane conceded a penalty for handball in the 37th minute. After a VAR review, Kakuta stepped up four minutes later and converted clinically into the bottom right corner to double Congo’s advantage before halftime.
Botswana came out fighting in the second half and nearly pulled one back in the 50th minute when Kabelo Seakanyeng fired a powerful effort toward the top left corner, but Lionel Mpasi produced a strong save to keep DR Congo’s clean sheet intact. On the hour mark, Congo effectively sealed the match. Théo Bongonda delivered a well-placed pass into the area and Kakuta reacted quickest, guiding the ball home from close range for his second goal of the match and DR Congo’s third.
Congo continued to threaten late on, with Bongonda himself narrowly missing the target from distance in the 85th minute, his left-footed drive flashing wide of the post. However, no further goals followed as DR Congo comfortably saw out the match.
The 3-0 win ensured DR Congo finished second in Group D and advanced to the knockout stages, while Botswana exited the competition after a difficult campaign. This fixture marked Botswana’s first AFCON match against non-West African opposition, and they remain without a win in open play against DR Congo across six total meetings.
