PORT GENTIL, Gabon The Democratic Republic of Congo qualified for the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup, leaving high-profile casualties in their wake.  The Congolese finished top of the standings after beating Togo 3-1 in Port Gentil while Morocco eliminated holders Ivory Coast with a 1-0 victory in Oyem. DRC Congo took advantage of Ivory Coast's qualification blunders to progress as Group C winners.
DR Congo, semi-finalists in 2015, secured a 3-1 victory over Emmanuel Adebayor's Togo, who were eliminated from the tournament as a result. DR Congo had taken a first-half lead through Junior Kabananga and then doubled their advantage after the break when Ndombe Mubele ran through and perfectly chipped the ball home from 18 yards. This was Junior Kabananga’s third goal of the tournament giving DR Congo the halftime lead. They added two more through Ndombe Mubele and Paul-Jose Mpoku while Kodjo Laba pulled one back for Togo.

Kabananga has now scored in all three Group C games, his latest goal coming as he ran on to a superb defence-splitting pass from Newcastle United’s Chancel Mbemba just before the half hour.
Togo’s failure to qualify marked only the second time in eight tournaments that Le Roy, who has been to more Nations Cups than any other coach, had failed to place a team in the last eight.
It could also have been the last international for Adebayor, their talismanic captain, who was denied a consolation goal in stoppage time when Merveille Bope cleared off the line.

“I am going now to think about whether I continue but I feel like I’m the captain of the boat and I’m not sure whether I should climb out yet,” Adebayor said. After the final whistle, the Congolese team formed a guard of honour to applaud him off the field.

Africa Team