Amadeu Masasi scored a stunner with the last kick of the game to salvage a 1-1 draw for two-time champions DR Congo in their exciting match against Libya at their TOTAL African Nations Championship match in Cameroon on Thursday.
Masasi's piledriver from 30 yards in the 94th minute broke the hearts of the Mediterranean Knights who thought they had secured victory in the Group B match played at the iconic Japoma Stadium in Douala.
The stunning strike restored parity after the Libyans led the match for 85 minutes before the Leopards equalized.
The Mediterranean Knights raced into the lead when captain Muetaz Husayn Almahdi headed in from a corner in the 5th minute.
Libya played out to a goalless draw in their first game of the group against Niger on Sunday and were keen on making a better showing in today’s game to enhance their chance of reaching the knock-out stages of the competition.
The former champions hit the ground running in the game and when they had a corner on their first attack in the match, Almahdi was left alone to head in with goalkeeper Nathan Thumu unprotected.
The two-time champions responded by piling into the area of the Libyans which put the defenders under pressure and one occasion led to a poor clearance which Fiston Mayele failed to take advantage of with just goalkeeper Ahmed Azzaqa at his mercy.
The Al Ahli striker Almahdi could have doubled the lead of his side in the 22nd minute when he burst free from a counter-attack but Leopards goalkeeper was quick off his line to clear to safety.
The Congolese continued to search for an opening in the defence of their opponents and in the 28th minute shot Chico Kubanza found himself at the edge of the but his shot wide with the stop-stopper completely beaten.
Moments later pacey Congo winger Makabi Lilepo broke from on the left before crossing for the onrushing Mayele but the Libyan goalkeeper made a hash of it at the first attempt before smothering to collect the ball.
Four minutes before the break Masasi combined beautifully with Mayele in the box but with the goalkeeper completely beaten, the latter’s final shot came back into play after hitting the upright.
The Al Ahli striker Almahdi could have doubled the lead of his side in the 22nd minute when he burst free from a counter-attack but Leopards goalkeeper was quick off his line to clear to safety.
The Congolese continued to search for an opening in the defence of their opponents and in the 28th minute shot Chico Kubanza found himself at the edge of the but his shot wide with the stop-stopper completely beaten.
Moments later pacey Congo winger Makabi Lilepo broke from on the left before crossing for the onrushing Mayele but the Libyan goalkeeper made a hash of it at the first attempt before smothering to collect the ball.
Four minutes before the break Masasi combined beautifully with Mayele in the box but with the goalkeeper completely beaten, the latter’s final shot came back into play after hitting the upright.
Source: cafonline.com