Before the match:  

South Africa	1	3-1	3
Algeria	1	0-0	1
DR Congo	1	0-0	1
Gabon	1	1-3	0

> see match-report South Africa - Gabon 
> see match-report DR Congo - Algeria 
A game with a lot to win and less to tose: South Africa can qualify for the quarter finals already tonight, but DR Congo cannot be eliminated. But they are under pressure: South Africa might not be as concentrated then in their last match against Algeria. So the Congolese should not afford to lose here. They have to improve from their first rather disappointing performance against Algeria. 
The two had met, too in 1998, when South AFrica beat the DR Congo at the semi-finals: 
> see the 1998 match-report  

C.A.F. match stats:
DR CONGO: 1-Mkueni Mayala, 3-Kabwe Kasongo, 4-Kitulele Yuvuladio, 5-Esele Bakasu, 6-Ndjeka Mukando, 21-Mubama Kibwey13-Missilou Mangituka, 14-Michel Dinzey, 8-Makaya Nsilulu, 7-Jean Banza Kasongo, 9-Felix-Michel Ngonge.
SOUTH AFRICA: 22-Andre Arendse, 4-Lucas Radebe, 5-Mark Fish, 15-Pierre Issa; 7-Quinton Fortune, 10-John Moshoeu, 11-Helman Mkhalele, 19-Dumisa Ngobe, 21-Eric Tinkler; 9-Shaun Bartlett, 17-Siyabonga Nomvete
Scorer: Shaun Bartlett 44 
Referee: Olaniyan Olufumi (NGR)
Ass. Referees: Osman Hameed (SUD) & Hugues Adjovi (BEN)
Reserve referee: Gamal El Ghandour

1st half: 
-('2) RSA (South Africa): Congolese goalkeeper plays concentrated like in the first match 
-('11) RSA: Yet defences had been concentrated against some individual efforts, but just at a set piece situation: after a corner #17 Nomvete, completely unmarked, heads across the bar 
-('12) RSA: A Mkahlele distance shot hits the crossbar and bounces down on the ground and out again, no goal. 
-('18) DRC (DR Congo): The Congolese display their skills when they keep the ball for half a minute and create a clear opportunity, but the eventually unmarked Kibway can't get off a decent header 
-('35) RSA: A deflected  header is cratched off the line by a Congolese defender 
-('39) RSA: Fine solo run by Nomvete but he is stopped for a corner 
-('42) RSA: After a low corner, Radebe puts in his foot but his shot is cleared by Dinzey who was positioned on the line for this case. 
-('injury time) RSA: fine sequence: Nomvete chips the ball on the head of Mkhalele, who heads it backwards on, a defender misjudges the flying ball and Bartlett has no problem to score from close range - 1:0

Halftime: 1:0 
South Africa, without being brilliant, again with more impact, dangerous on set-piece situations. The psychological moment of the late goal will be a problem for the DR Congo. But maybe it will help them to come out and attack abit more determined.

2nd half: 
DR Congo starts the second half attacking and dominating the match without creating any clear chances. South Africa too passive, with rare counter attacks. But it looks more and more conclusive: The Congolese are not too dangerous. In aggregated 2 and a half hours against Algeria and South Africa they have scored no goal, and they have had only few opportunities to. 
-('64) RSA: first big opportunity of the second half: a dangerous Shaun Bartlett header is saved by the keeper 
-('71) DRC: By a nice move, suddenly #9 Ngonge runs alone with the ball towards the South African goal and wants to score with a low shot into the left corner, but Arendse saves with his right foot 
-('74) RSA: Nomvete solo run but a great save by Mayala against his close range shot 
-('85) DRC: One of the fast solo runs by Kasongo Banza, but as often he cannot conclude his effort with a dangerous goal shot

Final result: 1:0 
South Africa are qualified for the quarter finals. In second half they concentrated on defending. DR Congo with less weapons in attack, lacked a distinctive passing game and now hope for the match against the less solid Gabon defence to score goals at all in this tournament. To advance they willneed the assistance of South Africa in their last match against Algeria. 

South Africa	2	4-1	6
Algeria	1	0-0	1
DR Congo	2	0-1	1
Gabon	1	1-3	0