[AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS] Two days after having to be talked out of quitting after a dispute with federation officials over bonuses, veteran French coach Claude Leroy watched the Democratic Republic of Congo come back from two goals down to tie favorite Ghana, 2-2, at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. The exciting finish at Port Elizabeth's Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was in sharp contrast to the other three games, where the vuvuzelas had little to blare out with just one goal.

(Click here for DR Congo-Ghana highlights.)

Emmanuel Agyemang Badu and Kwadwo Asamoah put Ghana ahead 2-0, but the Leopards rallied on goals by Tresor Mputu and Anderlecht's Dieumerci Mbokani in the first game of a doubleheader that drew 20,979 fans.

“This match was a great advertisement for African soccer,” said Leroy. “I’m proud of my players – they have great quality and they showed it by coming back to a high level competition like the Africa Cup after a seven-year absence. We deserved this result after all the problems we had and I hope that it will get the whole country behind the team now.”

Mali beat Niger, 1-0, on Seydou Keita's late goal, while both of Saturday's games -- South Africa-Cape Verde Islands and Angola-Morocco -- ended in 0-0 ties.