It was all celebrations yesterday afternoon in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their national team was playing to be first in their group to play the play-offs that give access to the Qatar World Cup 2022. They played the game before their audience and in front they had Benn, the first in Group J at that time.
The mythical Dieumerci Mbokani was soon ahead of his team on the scoreboard, the striker did not miss from eleven meters, a penalty not without controversy. If Benn tied, it would not serve Hector Cuper’s pupils, but in the 74th minute the suffering ended with Malango Ngita’s goal, which made it 2-0 final.
From glory to disappointment
The World Cup dream seemed to be getting closer and closer for the country with the second largest extension on the African continent. The DR of Congo has never qualified for a World Cup since it is not called Zaire and it seems that I will have to keep waiting. A gross error in the trading windows can deprive you of playing the play-offs.
Hector Cper, his coach, used four change windows during the second half, when the maximum allowed during a game is three without counting halftime.. The substitutions were at 63 ‘, 77’, 84 ‘and the last in 90’, with the match already sentenced. The Leopards, as the national team is known, placed first with 11 points, while Benn was second with 10. Visitors realizing the infringement have no hesitation in reporting it to FIFA.
The precedent that gives them hope
In November 2020, Libya 2-3 Equatorial Guinea was played in which exactly the same happened, the visitors used four substitution windows. Libya presented a complaint for what happened, but the Guinean team was not sanctioned, but the match referees for the error. This precedent gives the Congolese hope.
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