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| January 23, 2006 | Monday | Zilhaj 22, 1426 |
DR Congo ease past poor Togo
CAIRO, Jan 22: Democratic Republic of Congo coasted to a 2-0 victory over disappointing Togo in the second part of an African Nations Cup Group B double-header on Saturday. Tresor Mputu opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time and Lomana LuaLua struck midway through the second half to finish off opponents who never looked like a team that has qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
In the first half of Saturday’s double-bill, reigning African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto’o scored a hat trick as Cameroon triumphed 3-1 against Angola, another World Cup qualifier.
Togo suffered a late pre-match blow when star striker Emmanuel Adebayor withdrew from the starting line-up only to appear in the second half for his replacement, Nigeria-born Adekambi Olufade.
Adebayor scored 11 of the 22 goals which took the ‘Sparrowhawks’ to the Nations Cup for the sixth time and moved from French club Monaco to Arsenal this month.
Making an eighth consecutive appearance at the biennial African football showcase, the Congolese quickly took command on a clear, chilly night in the Egyptian capital.
Togo goalkeeper Kossi Agassa parried close-range shots from Biscotte Mbala and Zola Matumona at the expense of corners and captain LuaLua, from English Premiership strugglers Portsmouth, headed over when well placed.
Luck favoured 1968 and 1974 champions DR Congo when Mohamed Coubadja, one of many France-based players in the Togolese squad, sidefooted wide when scoring appeared simpler.
Mputu was a constant threat and a sizzling shot beat Agassi only to finish off target.
A Congolese shot rebounded off the base of a post and Kalemba made a brave save at the other in a lively climax to the first half before Mputu broke the deadlock with a chip over Agassi after being set up by LuaLua.
Togo almost fell further behind in a frantic early second-half goalmouth scramble before Togo coach Stephen Keshi rang the changes, bringing on Moustapha Salifou and Adebayor within six minutes.
The move did not pay off and DR Congo increased their lead after 64 minutes when LuaLua beat Eric Akoto twice on the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a shot that went in off the right hand of Agassa.
Togo were struggling and could have fallen further behind when Matumona unleashed a volley off a pass from Marcel Mbayo that flew centimetres wide with Agassa beaten.
A quick free kick exposed the Togolese defence and a LuaLua shot flew across the goalmouth past Agassa only to trickle out of play in a match becoming surprisingly one sided.
The tall Adebayor won some possession, often in wide areas, but lacked support and it was DR Congo who looked more likely to score as the match meandered to an unexciting close.—Agencies
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