Deiudonne Mbokani and Youssef Mulumbu both featured for Congo DR, as they ran out 3-2 winners over Burundi in the first leg of their second round 2018 World Cup qualifier.
Battling treacherous weather conditions that saw large swathes of the pitch submerged by water, Congo DR took an early lead through Crystal Palace’s Yannick Bolasie, before the hosts equalised shortly before half-time from an Amissi strike.
This is the pitch DR Congo played Burundi on. Hope Big D & Mulumbu took their swimming trunks! (pic: @FloryNisabwe) — Rob Butler (@BobRutler) November 12, 2015
The Burundi striker thought he’d won it late on, adding a second in the 83rd minute, but substitute Ndombe Mubele set up a grandstand finish with an equaliser three minutes later, before sealing a dramatic comeback victory with the winner in the 88th minute.
Mulumbu was booked on the hour mark, but Norwich manager Alex Neil will be pleased to see that two of his current most in-form players made it through relatively unscathed.
Mbokani was highly impressive in the Canaries’ victory over Swansea last weekend while Mulumbu has looked assured during recent appearances as he continues to regain full match fitness following early-season injury setbacks.
Norwich will hope that both players return to Colney free from injury, following Congo DR’s second-leg qualifier against Burundi on Sunday.
