adminthe first group games.
The Congolese cast aside unhappiness over bonuses and poor treatment by team officials to wipe out a two-goal deficit and finish stronger than Ghana in a 2-2 thriller.
Ghana were seeded first and DR Congo last in Group B and the Port Elizabeth match followed a predictable course when Italy-based duo Emmanuel Agyeman Badu and Kwadwo Asamoah scored for the Black Stars.
But the Leopards are nothing if not unpredictable and instead of throwing in the towel, they hit back with impressive captain Tresor Mputu scoring before Dieumerci Mbokani levelled off a penalty kick.
Mali top the table having finally broken the resistance of hyper-cautious Niger with six minutes left when the aerial shakiness of goalkeeper Daouda Kassaly gifted Seydou Keita a chance he readily accepted.
Ethiopia — back in the African football big time after 31 years — missed a penalty, had goalkeeper Jemal Tassew sent off, and conceded a goal to title-holders Zambia on the stroke of half-time in Nelspruit.
But the Walias Antelopes took a leaf from the Congolese book and deservedly equalised midway through the second half when skipper Adane Girma completed a slick move by firing the ball past Kennedy Mweene at his near post.
Burkina Faso and Nigeria also have one point each in Group C with pre-Cup doubt Alain Traore grabbing a last-second equaliser after Emmanuel Emenike had edged the Super Eagles ahead midway through the opening half.
Nigeria, one of several big-name absentees from the 2012 tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, did not impress and left too much unguarded space after defender Efe Ambrose was red carded 15 minutes from time.
Togo, dismissed by pundits as the rank outsiders among the 16 qualifiers, came within two minutes of holding Cote d’Ivoire in Group D after Jonathan Ayite cancelled an early Yaya Toure goal.
But reigning African Footballer of the Year Toure turned goal creator in Rustenburg with his free-kick to the far post expertly finished off by fellow English Premier League star Gervinho.
The brave Togolese proved their strengths extend beyond temperamental striker and skipper Emmanuel Adebayor, and a disallowed goal led French coach Didier Six to storm out of a post-match media conference. — AFP.
Online Reporter