South Africa vs DR Congo LIVE! AFCON result, match stream and latest updates today

South Africa overcame DR Congo to claim third place at the Africa Cup of Nations.

After their galling exit at the hands of Nigeria in the semi-finals, Bafana Bafana rode their luck at times as The Leopards squandered a host of good chances.

Both Chancel Mbemba and Yoanee Wissa should have scored in normal time for DR Congo, who had the best of the openings throughout the 120 minutes of action.

Still, South Africa held on and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams again proved to be the hero in the penalty shootout, much as he had gone against Cape Verde in the quarter-finals.

Despite South Africa falling behind by missing their first spot-kick, Williams saved two penalties to see them claim third spot. Mbemba could have won but Williams saved, forcing the shootout to a sudden-death format, from which Bafana Bafana claimed their victory.

After an AFCON full of drama, it was a fitting penultimate game.

South Africa vs DR Congo latest news

• Williams the hero as Bafana Bafana claim third place

Good night!

22:40 , Jonathan Gorrie

Thanks for following Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of South Africa’s dramatic win over DR Congo!

Find our full report below!

Williams the hero as South Africa claim third place at AFCON

22:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams proved the hero again as Bafana Bafana beat DR Congo in a penalty shootout to claim third sport the Africa Cup of Nations. Read the full story here!

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

22:12 , Jonathan Gorrie

Elia MISSES! Williams has it covered and Bafana Bafana claim third place!

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

22:11 , Jonathan Gorrie

Xulu SCORES for South Africa. 6-5.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

22:10 , Jonathan Gorrie

Wissa SCORES for DR Congo! 5-5.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

22:09 , Jonathan Gorrie

Appollis SCORES for South Africa. 5-4.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

22:08 , Jonathan Gorrie

Mbemba’s penalty is SAVED. We stay at 4-4!

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

22:07 , Jonathan Gorrie

Lepasa SCORES for South Africa! 4-4.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

22:06 , Jonathan Gorrie

Kayembe SCORES for DR Congo! 3-4 on pens.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

22:05 , Jonathan Gorrie

Modiba SCORES for South Africa! 3-3 on pens.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

22:04 , Jonathan Gorrie

Bakambu SCORES for DR Congo. They lead 3-2.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

22:04 , Jonathan Gorrie

Monare SCORES for South Africa! 2-2 on pens.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

22:03 , Jonathan Gorrie

Mfulu SCORES for DR Congo! They lead 2-1 thus far.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

22:02 , Jonathan Gorrie

Sibisi SCORES for South Africa!

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

22:01 , Jonathan Gorrie

Moutoussamy SCORES for DR Congo! Cracking penalty.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

22:00 , Jonathan Gorrie

Mokoena hits the post!

FT: South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

21:55 , Jonathan Gorrie

Nothing to split the teams as we head into extra-time!

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

21:48 , Jonathan Gorrie

89 mins: SO CLOSE!

Mayele puts a volley wide in the dying embers! We look set for penalties.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

21:42 , Jonathan Gorrie

83 mins: Wissa doing his best to cause problems but just cannot find a way through the South African backline.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

21:34 , Jonathan Gorrie

75 mins: WHAT A MISS!

Mbemba finds himself free at the back post but can’t sort his feet out and blazes over the bar!

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

21:24 , Jonathan Gorrie

65 mins: SO CLOSE!

Williams makes a rare mistake by dropping the ball when trying to claim a clearance but Silas puts his chance wide!

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

21:22 , Jonathan Gorrie

62 mins: DR Congo just cannot find the right ball in the final third.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

21:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

58 mins: Williams in the South Africa just meets everything.

DR Congo need to pull out something special.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

21:13 , Jonathan Gorrie

53 mins: Outside of a moment of magic, it’s hard to see where a winner is coming from.

South Africa are so good defensively but lack conviction in attack.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

21:07 , Jonathan Gorrie

48 mins: Diagana is causing South Africa some problems but Bafana Bafana largely remain comfortable in their deep block.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo: Back underway!

21:04 , Jonathan Gorrie

Away we go!

HT: South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

20:48 , Jonathan Gorrie

That’s the half-time whistle!

No goals so far.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

20:47 , Jonathan Gorrie

46 mins: Little to split them so far, albeit DR Congo have probably had the better of things.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

20:42 , Jonathan Gorrie

41 mins: South Africa going long to try and split the DR Congo defence but Mbemba is dealing with everything pretty well.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

20:36 , Jonathan Gorrie

35 mins: South Africa are so strong at the back, any time DR Congo go forward, they are simply crowded out.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

20:32 , Jonathan Gorrie

30 mins: For a team who didn’t want to play the game, South Africa certainly are putting in a competitive performance.

Yet to get going in an attacking sense, however.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

20:25 , Jonathan Gorrie

24 mins: DR Congo just can’t find the final pass, they’ve been far too sloppy in decent areas.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

20:20 , Jonathan Gorrie

20 mins: Makgopa ties his luck from range but blazes over!

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

20:13 , Jonathan Gorrie

12 mins: South Africa starting to get their foot on the ball now but aren’t creating much.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

20:10 , Jonathan Gorrie

08 mins: CHANCE FOR DR CONGO!

Mvumpa has only Williams to beat after a break but the South Africa keeper stands tall and robs him of the ball.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

20:05 , Jonathan Gorrie

05 mins: Wissa almost in but DR Congo can’t quite find the right ball.

Bafana Bafana happy to sit on the ball at the moment.

South Africa 0-0 DR Congo

20:03 , Jonathan Gorrie

02 mins: Confident start from DR Congo, who look as if they’re going to dominate the early stages.

South Africa vs DR Congo: KICK-OFF!

20:00 , Jonathan Gorrie

Away we go!

South Africa vs DR Congo: A tournament full of memories

19:41 , Jonathan Gorrie

What an AFCON it’s been...

South Africa vs DR Congo: A look at tonight's venue

19:31 , Jonathan Gorrie

How tonight’s venue looks!

South Africa vs DR Congo: Atmosphere building

19:13 , Jonathan Gorrie

One last time from Bafana Bafana!

South Africa vs DR Congo: AFCON latest

19:08 , Jonathan Gorrie

Third place or not, South Africa are taking this seriously.

Confirmed DR Congo lineup

19:04 , Jonathan Gorrie

DR Congo XI: Yaka; Kifutu, Buduka, Tshibola, Diangana, Moutoussamy, Bongonda, Kotompa, Ditu, Mbemba, Bokote

Confirmed South Africa lineup

19:01 , Jonathan Gorrie

South Africa XI: Williams; Mudau, Xulu, Sibisi, Modiba; Sihole, Mokena, Zwane; Mayambela, Makgopa, Morena

South Africa vs DR Congo: Not long until team news

18:55 , Jonathan Gorrie

Minutes away from finding out who lines up for today’s game.

South Africa vs DR Congo: Calm before the storm

18:33 , Jonathan Gorrie

A look inside the dressing rooms...

South Africa vs DR Congo: Batubinsika calls for focus

18:22 , Jonathan Gorrie

Dylan Batubinsika has warned his DR Congo teammates to keep their focus despite losing the semi-final.

"I think we have a mixture of feelings with the elimination, but our ambition is to go and get this medal. We have to stay mobilised to at least finish in third place," the player said.

He added,”We have to be proud of what we've done so far, we've had a great run, we would have liked to go all the way but that wasn't the case

South Africa vs DR Congo: Heartbreak for Bafana Bafana

17:59 , Jonathan Gorrie

Losing on penalties was such a cruel exit for South Africa, so its fascinating to see how they react.

South Africa vs DR Congo: Latest odds

17:54 , Jonathan Gorrie

South Africa to finish third: 6/5

DR Congo to finish third: 8/13

Odds via Betfair and subject to change.

South Africa coach admits he'd rather not play AFCON third-place play-off

17:45 , Jonathan Gorrie

The right to finish third at the Africa Cup of Nations is not one that South Africa coach Hugo Broos will lose much sleep over.

Bafana Bafana face DR Congo in Abidjan on Saturday for a play-off game before the final between Nigeria and Ivory Coast a day later.

It was Nigeria who denied South Africa their first final in 24 years in a dramatic penalty shootout, after Broos’ side defied expectations to go deep into the competition.

Read the full story here!

South Africa vs DR Congo: Head to head (h2h) history and results

17:40 , Jonathan Gorrie

The two nations met in a friendly in September, with South Africa picking up a 1-0 win.

South Africa wins: 3

Draws: 1

DR Congo wins: 1

South Africa vs DR Congo: Prediction today

17:30 , Jonathan Gorrie

DR Congo have conceded five goals in six matches at the tournament, while the South Africa defence has only been breached three times.

It would be a surprise if either side really opened up now, even if the pressure is off to a degree, and it could be another long, tight encounter. Bafana Bafana were so close to reaching the final, and are fancied to end their AFCON run on a high.

South Africa to win in extra-time.

DR Congo team news vs South Africa today

17:30 , Jonathan Gorrie

As for DR Congo, Gael Kakuta made his return from injury in the semi-final but managed only 45 minutes. It remains to be seen whether he is risked against Bafana Bafana.

Yoane Wissa is expected to start again, before returning to try and win his place back in the Brentford side.

South Africa team news vs DR Congo today

17:30 , Jonathan Gorrie

Grant Kekana is suspended for South Africa after his red card against Nigeria, with Nkosinathi Sibisi and Siyanda Xulu the options to partner Mothobi Mvala in the centre of defence.

Hugo Broos has been reluctant to make changes throughout the tournament, but Mihlali Mayambela and Zakhele Lepasa are among those who could come in should he opt to shuffle his pack for the third place play-off. Thapelo Maseko will miss out again.

South Africa vs DR Congo: TV channel and live stream

17:29 , Jonathan Gorrie

TV channel: The third place play-off will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports football, with coverage getting underway at 7:45pm GMT ahead of kick-off 15 minutes later.

Live stream: Subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.

LIVE coverage: Follow all the final action with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog.

Welcome

17:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

Good evening and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of South Africa’s AFCON third-place playoff with DR Congo today.

Kick-off at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan is at 8pm GMT.