DRC force Ghana draw

Ghana scored the first goal of the tournament when Emmanuel Agyemang Badu slid home from Kwadwo Asamoah’s pass.

Asamoah doubled Ghana’s lead when he headed in at the far post but Tresor Mputu replied quickly for DR Congo, poking home from inside the box.

And DR Congo restored parity when Dieumerci Mbokani scored a penalty after being dragged down by his shirt.

It was a deserved point for DR Congo, whose build-up to the match had been marred by rumours that their coach Claude LeRoy had quit over a row about bonus money.

But the Frenchman was in place on the touchline to see his team make a bright start against the fancied Ghanaians.

Lomana Lua Lua came close to opening the scoring when his fierce drive from inside the box was brilliantly tipped against the bar by Fatau Dauda.

Shortly after, more incisive approach play from DR Congo saw prolific Anderlecht striker Mbokani twist his way to the byeline and knock the ball back to an unmarked Mputu, but he shot wildly high and wide.

It was clear that Ghana, who had come into the tournament off the back off of 3-0 and 4-2 wins over Egypt and Tunisia respectively, were not going to have this all their own way.

Former Newcastle and Portsmouth forward Lua Lua was again in the action when he fired in a shot from the edge of the box, but this time Dauda was able to watch the ball drift harmlessly wide.

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah, hoping to lead his country to their first title since 1982, would not have envisaged the campaign starting this way.

And he had more reason to be displeased when skipper Asamoah Gyan dragged a shot horribly wide having been played clean through by an excellent pass from Derek Boateng.

But at least it was evidence that the Black Stars would threaten.

And five minutes before half-time, it was Ghana who broke the deadlock — and it was a goal worthy of being the first of the tournament.

Asamoah played a superb one-two with Badu to break into the box and he then pulled the ball back for Badu, who had continued his run to slide in and clip the ball into the net.

Just after the re-start, Ghana doubled their advantage when Asamoah ghosted in at the far post to meet a corner and head the ball in off the underside of the bar.

To their credit, DR Congo, who had not been playing at all badly in their first match at the Nations Cup football since 2006, responded quickly.

Mputu latched on to a ball into the box and finished brilliantly, using the outside of his boot to poke the ball into the far corner.

Sixteen minutes later they were given a chance to restore parity when Mbokani was dragged down in the penalty area by Jerry Akaminko, who had hold of the striker’s shirt.

And the Belgium-based forward, who has scored 23 goals for his club this season, made the spot-kick look easy as he slotted the ball into the corner, with the keeper diving the wrong way.

A stunned-looking Ghana took a few moments to regain their composure – and when they did they could have regained the lead.

But twice in the space of four minutes they were denied by excellent saves from Robert Kidiaba, who first was equal to a shot from Gyan before then back-pedalling at pace to tip over a free-kick that was sneaking in under the bar.

Then at the other end it took an equally brilliant save from Dauda to prevent DR Congo snatching a breathtaking victory as he dived low to his left to push Youssouf Mulumbu’s shot around the post.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s Sports minister Fikile Mbalula says the government is pleased with opening of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.

“The smooth and seamless operation by our people is much appreciated, a recorded amount of 70 220 spectators attended the opening ceremony and games,” Mbalula said in a statement yesterday.

“The rainy conditions that took over our country yesterday (Saturday) ahead of the continental showpiece under the banner of the Africa Nations Cup South Africa 2013 did not deter football loving Africans from watching the glamorous opening ceremony and the beautiful game of football at the National Stadium.”

The South African soccer team got their campaign off to a rocky start with a goalless draw with Cape Verde Islands in rainy conditions.

Mbalula urged South African supporters to continue supporting Bafana Bafana despite their lacklustre performance.

“South Africa has not lost the tournament at all, hence we have to continue to support Bafana Bafana,” he said. “Yesterday’s game was just the beginning and we will not give up on them.”

He praised the Local Organising Committee for the work they have done up to this point.

“We would also like to congratulate the Afcon Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the sterling work they have done so far and for the sleepless nights they went through to put together this prestigious extravaganza for South Africa in particular and Africa in general,” he said.

“We would like to thank the public for the way they behaved and co-operated with the security and officials at the various venues leading to the stadium.”

He said government had delivered on its mandate of taking the tournament to ordinary citizens who could not attend the opening match.

“There were about 45 public viewing areas set up in both indoor and outdoor facilities across the country in places such as Diepsloot, Xhariep, Amalangeni, Mookgopong and Oudtshoorn,” Mbalula said.

Mbalula called on supporters to adhere to restrictions such as not bringing umbrellas to the match venues.—Sport24.