The DR Congo team, which won the inaugural African Football Championships, returns home to widespread accolades.
Residents of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) got a rare chance to celebrate as the team that won the inaugural African Football Championship (CHAN) arrived in the city on Tuesday (March 10) to kick off a victory tour.
Goma is the capital of the eastern North Kivu province where much of the fighting in Congo's long-running conflicts have taken place.
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The DR Congo team, which won the inaugural African Football Championships, returns home to widespread accolades.
Residents of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) got a rare chance to celebrate as the team that won the inaugural African Football Championship (CHAN) arrived in the city on Tuesday (March 10) to kick off a victory tour.
Goma is the capital of the eastern North Kivu province where much of the fighting in Congo's long-running conflicts have taken place.
But many of the city's residents momentarily forgot their problems as they gathered at the airport to welcome the victorious 'Leopards' and catch a glimpse of their hard-won trophies.
Congo upset the favourites, Ghana, 2-0 in a thrilling final in Ivory Coast's main city Abidjan on Sunday (March 8).
''Our victory is not an accident, we have worked hard. For the final, we were very focused because Ghana had beaten us 3-0 in the pool match and we felt very bad about that.
That is why we worked very hard and we won,'' said Dioko Kaluyituka, one of the goal scorers.
35,000 people turned out to watch the clash between Ghana and DR Congo in Abidjan.
"Everyone is mixed together, there are Ivorians, Ghanaians, all the nations are united here,' said Mrs. Gnapo, a civil society leader, who was at the final.
A goal by Dioko Kaluyituka early in the second half put Congo in the lead.
"Ghana doesn't have a chance!" a DRC supporter said after Kaluyituka's header.
The Leopards' fans went into a frenzy when Mbenza Bedi scored the second goal with about 14 minutes to go.
The CHAN 2009 trophy was then presented to the Congolese by Ivory Coast's President Laurent Gbagbo.
The tournament, played for the first time this year, was set up to expose fresh African talent and only featured players who are not with clubs abroad. CHAN will be played every two years.
This is the first major win for Congo since they carried off the Nation's Cup in 1974. Close