Congo DR got their African Nations Championship campaign off to a winning start thanks to a 1-0 victory over Mauritania at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

It was an encounter that saw a number of yellow cards and Mauritania's cause was made tougher during the second half when their captain Moussa Sidi Bagayoko was handed his marching orders.

Before that, Eric Nkulukuta struck the post for Congo DR in the 38th minute and two minutes later Mauritania's Samba Voullany saw his effort cleared off the line.

It took 2009 champions Congo DR just six minutes after the restart to break the deadlock. Eddy Emomo was the scorer as he converted from the penalty spot.

Moments later it looked as though Yacoub Fall had drawn Mauritania level, but his curling strike hit the angle of crossbar and post before it was hacked to safety.

Any chance Patrice Neveu's team had of getting back into the encounter were all but ended in the 73rd minute when skipper Bagayoko was handed his second caution of the game.