By our man in Rabat
GAEL KAKUTA rolled back the years at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat to send DR Congo charging into the AFCON last 16.
The former Chelsea starlet was the conductor in chief as the Leopards tore apart a toothless Botswana 3-0 in the Moroccan capital.
While the setting at the Al Medina was picturesque, the football from the Zebras was anything but, as they slumped to their third straight defeat of the tournament.
The Congolese didn’t take long to make themselves at home in Rabat. Just after the half-hour mark, Kakuta turned provider with a piece of magic, a cheeky backheel finding Nathanael Mbuku who slotted home the opener. Botswana, who have looked out of their depth all tournament, were soon staring down the barrel of a rout.
Disaster struck for the Zebras just before the break when Thabo Leinanyane was pinged for handball in the box. Kakuta stepped up, cooler than the evening breeze in the stadium, and smashed the penalty into the top corner.
Despite the vocal Congolese support echoing around the Al Medina, Botswana offered nothing in response.
Kakuta put the result beyond any doubt on the hour mark, finishing off a slick move involving Theo Bongonda to make it three.
A fourth goal from Fiston Mayele was chalked off by VAR for handball, sparing the Zebras further embarrassment on a night where they failed to register a single goal for the entire group stage.
The win sees DR Congo finish second in Group D behind Senegal, setting up a mouth-watering knockout clash against Algeria. For Botswana, the lights have gone out on their AFCON dream as they head home from Rabat with zero points and plenty of soul-searching to do.
