Ivory Coast were held to a 2-2 draw by the DR Congo at the African Nations Cup on Friday, the defending champions' second straight stalemate in Group C.
DR Congo led twice during an impressive first-half performance, but Wilfried Bony and Serey Die scored equalisers and the Elephants, dominant in the second period, went close to a winner late on but had to settle for another draw.
DR Congo took the lead in the 10th minute when Neeskens Kebano superbly fired Junior Kabananga's lay-off low inside the far post.
The equaliser came when Bony met Max Gradel's right-wing corner with a powerful downward header into the far corner after 25 minutes.
Parity lasted only two minutes, though, as dreadful defending allowed Kabananga to restore DR Congo's lead. Firmin Mubele was picked out on the right wing and from his cross, keeper Sylvain Gbohouo was hopelessly out of position and Serge Aurier left Kabananga unmarked to head in.
"We knew that this Congo team would come at us at the start of the game. We were warned," Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly said.
Simon Deli and Mubele went close at opposite ends and Mubele failed to pick out Dieumerci Mbokani in DR Congo's next chance -- and he was made to pay as the Ivory Coast broke clear and captain Serey Die's 20-yard strike was deflected past Ley Matampi for the equaliser.
In stoppage time, Aurier's deft flick from a Franck Kessie corner was saved and a narrow offside call saw Salomon Kalou's emphatic volley chalked off as DR Congo hung on.
"What I take away is that we came back each time," Ivory Coast coach Michel Dussuyer said. "We went through some difficult periods, difficult moments, but we came back into the game and we finally finished stronger than Congo. So the positive thing, I think, is that we found our soul."
DR Congo are no underdogs at the African Cup these days after finishing third last time in Equatorial Guinea, yet Ivory Coast were expected to win even before the Congolese had two important defenders, including captain Gabriel Zakuani, ruled out with injury.
"We really wanted to win that game," DR Congo's Kebano said. "It was a tough game against the best team in Africa but I think that point is a very important point for us.''
In the late game, Morocco capitalised on a poor goalkeeping performance from Kossi Agassa to beat Togo 3-1.
The Lions, who secured their first points of the competition having lost to DR Congo in their opener, were behind early on after Mathieu Dossevi's brilliant opener.
However, they were level after 14 minutes as Agassa failed to collect a routine corner, leaving Aziz Bouhaddouz to head in, before Romain Saiss added a second.
Agassa then failed to keep out a speculative long-range effort from Youssef Ed-Nesyri as Morocco coasted to the three points.
The results leave DR Congo on top of the group with four points, though they could still miss out on the quarterfinals if they lose to Togo in the final round and Morocco-Ivory Coast does not end in a draw.