CHAN 2016: Thursday Scores, Results, Updated Group Standings and Schedule

D.R. Congo made it two wins from two at this year’s African Nations Championships, as they were comfortable 4-2 victors over Angola at the Stade Huye in Butare, Rwanda.

Goals from Nelson Munganga and Meshack Elia notched inside the opening 18 minutes, before another from Jonathan Bolingi made the game safe for the Leopards at half-time.

After the interval, Angola were able to pull one back through Gerson, but the three-goal buffer was re-established by Merveille Bope; another late Angola goal, this time from Adriano Belmiro Duarte, rounded off what was a crazy final few minutes.

Cameroon and Ethiopia played out a disappointing goalless draw in Group B's other match on Thursday, keeping the Indomitable Lions in second spot.

Here’s a reminder of how Group B is shaping up after the day’s games, the matches to come in the group stages and a recap of the best bits of the action from Thursday’s games.

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	DR Congo	2	2	0	0	+5	6
2	Cameroon	2	1	1	0	+1	4
3	Ethiopia	2	0	1	1	-3	1
4	Angola	2	0	0	2	-3	0

Date	Time (GMT/ET)	Group	Match
Jan. 22	1 p.m. / 8 a.m.	C	Tunisia vs. Nigeria
Jan. 22	4 p.m. / 11 a.m.	C	Niger vs. Guinea
Jan. 23	1 p.m. / 8 a.m.	D	Zimbabwe vs. Mali
Jan. 23	4 p.m. / 11 a.m.	D	Uganda vs. Zambia
Jan. 24	1 p.m. / 8 a.m.	A	Morocco vs. Rwanda
Jan. 24	4 p.m. / 11 a.m.	A	Ivory Coast vs. Gabon
Jan. 25	1 p.m. / 8 a.m.	B	Ethiopia vs. Angola
Jan. 25	4 p.m. / 11 a.m.	B	Cameroon vs. Congo
Jan. 26	1 p.m. / 8 a.m.	C	Guinea vs. Nigeria
Jan. 26	4 p.m. / 11 a.m.	C	Niger vs. Tunisia
Jan. 27	1 p.m. / 8 a.m.	D	Zambia vs. Mali
Jan. 27	4 p.m. / 11 a.m.	D	Uganda vs. Zimbabwe

D.R. Congo	4-2	Angola
Cameroon	0-0	Ethiopia

Thursday Recap

Knowing another win would virtually secure their spot in the quarter-finals of the competition, D.R. Congo flew out of the traps against Angola, seeking to put the match beyond doubt early on.

The Leopards were able to do exactly that. From the off, it was clear they had the bit between their teeth, and within eight minutes, they were ahead. It was Munganga who pounced to force the ball home from a set piece, although the Angola goalkeeper will not want to see a replay of his efforts, as he should have comfortably saved the shot.

It was a goal that set the tempo for the rest of the opening period, with D.R. Congo piling forward at every opportunity.

Just 10 minutes on from going in front, the match was almost done. This time it was Elia in position to bring down a cross, knock the ball past an onrushing defender and finish coolly on the half-volley. Already, the Angolans had a mountain to climb in this one.

Here’s a look at the goal to make it 2-0:

"

#CHAN2016 #Rwanda2016 #GB [PT #RDC 3-0 #ANG] Así fue el segundo gol de #RDCongo ante #Angola, obra de Meschak Elia pic.twitter.com/IXsqmYPqe4

— Camino a Rusia (@caminoarusia) January 21, 2016"

Sadly for them, things were only going to get worse before they got better. Not content with a 2-0 lead, D.R. Congo sensed blood and went in search of a third. It was a goal they notched just before the break, as 21-year-old forward Jonathan Bolingi made the game safe for the Leopards.

After the break, the leaders did decide to take their foot off the gas a little, with Angola intent on avoiding further embarrassment for the second 45 minutes. But we were eventually treated to a frantic final few minutes.

D.R. Congo did seem as though they were letting too much complacency creep into their game, allowing Angola to grow into the contest for the first time. They did nick a goal to show for their efforts, too, with Gelson slotting home with 14 minutes remaining to make it 3-1.

It seemed to spark D.R. Congo into life, and within seven minutes, they restored their three-goal lead through Bope. Remarkably, there was still some life left in Angola yet, as Gelson was again involved and put one on a plate for Duarte with nine minutes to go.

Unfortunately for Angola, it was too late to mount a comeback, and they fell to their second defeat in as many matches.  

CAF shared the vital statistics on social media after the match:

Cameroon and Ethiopia were involved in a poor match at the Huye stadium, with a first-half power cut being the main source of entertainment in a lifeless, goalless draw.

The game was delayed while power was restored, leading to significant added time to be played before the break.

Mulualem Haile went closest for the Walias in the first half, sprinting through after a magnificent break. However, the player blazed his effort over the bar, spurning a rare chance to take the lead.

Brice Moumi looked the most likely to break the deadlock in the second half, as the Lions advanced forward, but he wasted several chances in a pedestrian match with very little flair or quality. 

The point maintains Ethiopia's very slim chances of qualifying intact, but they ideally needed a win against a lacklustre Cameroon XI.