DR Congo became the first team to win two African Nations Championship titles after crushing Mali 3-0 in the 2016 final at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Sunday evening.
The Leopards – who claimed their first title in the inaugural CHAN tournament in the Ivory Coast in 2009 – secured the emphatic win thanks to a brace from the brilliant Mechak Elia and a fine strike by Jonathan Bolingi.
The first clear chance of the game went the way of DRC after just five minutes, with Zacharie Mombo providing a fine cross from the left flank to pick out Mechak Elia, but the forward put his header just over the crossbar.
Mali then had a couple of chances for Mamdou Coulibaly, the second of which saw him run onto a clever lob over the defence before steering a chip just off target as DRC goalkeeper Ley Matampi sprinted off his line to put the forward under pressure.
On 29 minutes the Leopards broke the deadlock with one of the best goals of the tournament. Mecjak Elia sprinted onto a long ball down the left flank, cut inside one defender and sent an unstoppable right-footed shot beyond Djigui Diarra from a tight angle.
Mali missed out on a good chance to equalise on 35 minutes, with Matampi saving from a long-range effort but only succeeding in allowing the ball to bounce freely in the danger area, yet Abdoulaye Diarra’s follow-up was straight at the Leopards ‘keeper.
DRC doubled their advantage just after the hour mark and it was Elia who again found the back of the net, running onto a great through ball from midfield before rounding the goalkeeper and coolly finishing to make it 2-0.
On 73 minutes the Leopards killed off the match as a contest, with Jonathan Bolingi firing home a low shot from the edge of the box to make it 3-0 and wrap up the scoring in what was very much a one-sided final.
Meanwhile, Ivory Coast finished third at the CHAN 2016 after beating Guinea 2-1 in Third-Place clash at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda on Sunday afternoon.
The Elephants enjoyed more possession in the opening stages of the game, but Guinea threatened first through Sankhon, whose effort went inches wide of the target in the 24th minute.
Two minutes later, Guinea were awarded a penalty after Samake was brought down inside the Ivory Coast box. But keeper Cisse denied Sankhon from the spot-kick.
However, the opening goal came in the 32nd minute when Youla’s backpass was missed by Guinea goalkeeper Keita, and it ended up in the back of the net – 1-0 to Ivory Coast.
Four minutes later, Badie doubled Ivory Coast’s lead with a powerful strike from the edge of the Guinea box which gave Keita no chance in goal. The Elephants were leading 1-0 at half-time.
Guinea pressed Ivory Coast for the equalising goal in the opening stages of the second-half. They were awarded another penalty in the 64th minute.
Substitute Haba was brought down inside the box by Comara who was booked. Once again Cisse pulled off a great save to deny Guinea a goal from the spot-kick.
With four minutes left on the clock, Aboubacar pulled one back for Guinea with a decent low header. But Ivory Coast held onto their slender lead and they won 2-1 on the day.
