Hendra Wijaya
Yoane Wissa continued his impressive international form on Monday, scoring one goal and setting up another as the Democratic Republic of the Congo defeated Zimbabwe 2-1 in Harare to maintain a perfect start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The Newcastle United striker, who has become a central figure for the Leopards in recent years, opened the scoring in the 30th minute after Zimbabwe goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze failed to hold onto a cross, allowing the 30-year-old to poke the loose ball into the net from close range. It was a moment of opportunism that typified Wissa's predatory instincts in front of goal.
The visitors doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time when Wissa turned provider, threading a precise pass through for Samuel Moutoussamy, who made no mistake with a composed finish. The goal capped a dominant opening period for the Congolese side, who controlled possession and created the better chances against a Zimbabwe team struggling to find rhythm on their long-awaited return to home soil.
The match marked Zimbabwe's first home international fixture since November 2021, following extensive renovations at the Harare venue, which had been declared unsuitable for international competition. The emotional significance of the occasion was evident, though the Warriors struggled to match the occasion with their performance in the opening 45 minutes. The gulf in quality was reflected in the FIFA world rankings, with DR Congo sitting 89 places above their hosts.
Zimbabwe showed considerably more resolve after the interval, pressing higher up the pitch and creating several half-chances as they sought a way back into the contest. Their persistence was finally rewarded deep into stoppage time when Marshall Munetsi scored a consolation goal in the 93rd minute, giving the home supporters something to celebrate on an otherwise frustrating evening.
For DR Congo, the victory represents another significant step in what has been a remarkable period for Congolese football. The Leopards secured a historic last-32 finish at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a run that captured the imagination of supporters across the football-mad nation and elevated the profile of several key players on the global stage. That momentum has carried into the qualifying campaign for the 2027 tournament.
The win follows DR Congo's 2-0 home victory over Equatorial Guinea in their opening Group E fixture, meaning the Leopards sit atop the group with a maximum six points. Their two AFCON titles came in 1968 and 1974, meaning the nation has waited 52 years for a third continental crown. With the quality currently at their disposal, including the in-form Wissa, there is growing belief that the long wait could soon come to an end.
Group E remains delicately poised, however. Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea both have three points from their opening two matches and are scheduled to meet twice in November, a double-header that could prove decisive in determining which nation advances alongside the group leaders. Sierra Leone, meanwhile, remain without a point after two matches and face an uphill battle to remain competitive in the section.
Equatorial Guinea secured their first win of the qualifying campaign with a 1-0 victory over Sierra Leone, courtesy of a goal from Loren Zuniga inside the opening minute. The match was played in Yaounde, Cameroon's capital, because Equatorial Guinea are among 11 of the 48 nations competing in the AFCON group stage who are required to host matches at neutral venues due to the absence of an international-standard stadium on home soil.
The Central African Republic face similar logistical challenges and suffered a 1-0 defeat to Burkina Faso in Group F, with the match staged in Casablanca, Morocco. Aboubacar Camara scored the decisive goal in the second half, condemning the "homeless" Central African side to a narrow loss in their latest qualifying fixture.
Elsewhere, Tunisia's struggles continued as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Botswana in Rades, near Tunis. It was the second time in four days that the North African giants had been forced to settle for a share of the points on home soil, raising questions about their form and consistency at a crucial juncture in the qualifying campaign.
Tunisia appeared on course for their first competitive victory of the year when Hazem Mastouri scored either side of half-time, cancelling out an early Botswana goal before putting his side ahead. However, the visitors, ranked 90 places below Tunisia in the global standings, refused to capitulate and restored parity on the hour mark through a delicate lob from substitute Lebogang Ditsele.
The result leaves Botswana top of Group H on goals scored, level on points with Tunisia, following their second consecutive 2-2 draw after sharing the spoils with Libya last week. For Tunisia, a nation with a proud AFCON pedigree, the dropped points represent a significant setback and heaps pressure on the coaching staff and players ahead of their forthcoming fixtures.
For DR Congo, meanwhile, the focus will be on maintaining their perfect record when qualifying resumes. Wissa's contribution in Harare served as a reminder of his value to the national team, and with the Leopards chasing a first AFCON title in over half a century, his goalscoring exploits could prove decisive in turning long-held ambitions into reality.
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