South Africa beat DRC on penalties to take bronze at Africa Cup of Nations
South Africa claimed third place at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday night following a penalty shoot-out victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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The match at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan ended 0-0 after 90 minutes and went straight to the spot-kick session.
DRC had a chance to win it with their fifth kick, but South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams plunged to his right to parry Chancel Mbemba's effort.
That made it four apiece. The next three shots were successfully converted but Williams saved Meshack Elia's attempt to spark celebrations among the South Africans.
"The players have given everything," said DRC coach Sebastien Desabre. "But we are fourth and not third because we did not convert our chances and penalties are always a lottery."
Squandered chances
His side squandered a plethora of opportunities in the second half that would have made penalties an irrelevance.
With five minutes remaining, substitute Fiston Mayele burst into South Africa penalty from the left and fired a shot past Williams, but also the other side of his lefthand post. Soon after Yoanne Wissa missed the target when he cut in from the right.
"We need to work on things," added Desabre. "When I look at my players I know they are doing their utmost and have the desire to do well so there are always chances to improve.
"I'm sure the Congolese people are proud of their team. We've done more good things than bad things."
Eight years ago in Equatorial Guinea, DRC came third – their best performance at the Cup of Nations since 1998.
In the same competition, South Africa – who were the defending champions – lost in the final to Egypt and two years later claimed third place.
Fighting spirit
But they have failed to recreate such consistency in the subsequent two decades with quarter-final appearances in 2002, 2013 and 2019. They failed to qualify for the tournament in 2010, 2012, 2017 and 2021.
"But now with this third place, we don't have to think that now everything is OK," said South Africa boss Hugo Broos.
"There is still a lot of work to do. But I think the basics are there and everyone knows now when they play for national team what we expect from them as a player."
The 71-year-old, who has been linked with some of the vacant posts in African and Asian football, conceded DRC would have been deserved winners of the game.
"We were not fresh," said Broos. "But when you see the mentality in that group and how they fight for it till the last second of the game, I think that's why we won today.
"DRC was better than us. DRC had more chances than us. But if you fight for it like my players did, I think they deserve it and I'm very proud of them."
Read also:
- Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire coaches lay down terms for Cup of Nations glory
- 2023 Africa Cup of Nations: 5 things we learned on Day 29 - Tales of yore
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