For the fourth day of the AFCON 2023 qualifiers, Mauritania managed to keep the DRC in check. Since attacker Cedric Bakambu was sent off for a controversial move, the Leopards finished this game with 10 players. In this occasion, the Congolese defender Arthur Masuaku took the lead.
For the purpose of qualifying for the 2023 AFCON, the Leopards are in a difficult situation. The DRC and Mauritania were pushed to a draw (1-1). In the 59th minute, Cedric Bakambu, who scored the goal, left the Sebastien Desabre team. After a heated exchange, the striker was given the red card.
The 31-year-old striker applied pressure to the goalie after a Mauritanian defender’s backpass was insufficiently forceful. Babacar Mbaye plunged himself to the ground in a disgusting simulation as Bakambu retracted his foot to keep from touching the goalkeeper who had illegally grabbed the ball with his hand following an intentional transfer from a teammate. The central referee fell for the trap and issued a second yellow card to an Olympiacos player following an altercation between players from both sides.
Arthur Masuaku is concerned with a decision made by the referee. “Beyond the outcome: It’s soccer; maybe we would have won, maybe not. Nevertheless, actions like this are harmful to our teams, who already have enough issues to deal with off the field. Honor our team and our sport. When a back pass is made voluntarily, why does the goalkeeper pick up the ball? Cedric doesn’t touch anything, and on top of that, he gets another yellow? How can that be honestly accepted in 2023? “He pounded out a string of social media posts, according to RMC Sport.
The arbitration is subject to criticism from the Congolese. Even better, the DRC ought to have profited from a fine. The Mauritanian goalie plowed Bakambu down in the direction of the post. The striker took a shot after beating the goalkeeper still in the first half. Nevertheless, a defender’s hand prevented the former OM player from scoring the game-changing goal instead of being whistled by the referee.
The DRC is facing the wall after this draw. With four points and a last-place finish in Group I, the Leopards must defeat Gabon and Sudan on Days 5 and 6 of the qualifications to go to the Ivory Coast.
