Malabo — The Democratic Republic of Congo won the bronze medal at the African Nations Cup on Saturday at the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo with victory on penalties in the third place play-off match.

DR Congo won 4-2 on kicks after a goalless draw for their first medal success at the continental championship since they finished third at the 1998 finals in Burkina Faso.

Equatorial Guinea had their opening two kicks of the shoot-out saved, including a squandered effort by their top scorer Javier Balboa, leaving central defender Cedric Mongongou to convert the decisive kick for victory.

Hosts Equatorial Guinea finish fourth and are expected to shoot up the FIFA rankings, to be released next week.

Saturday's match was a predictable end to a dour affair devoid of much action as the bronze medal matches so often are.

Some scratchy defending allowed Equatorial Guinea two chances in the opening 10 minutes with Emilio Nsue having his effort blocked and Balboa missing a golden chance.

But in a tired affair, with both teams showing the effects of six matches in the three week tournament, chances were never going to be polished off with aplomb as Yannick Bolaise showed in the 40th minute when he had a good opportunity but hit wide.

Congo's key attacker Dieumerci Mbokani came on after halftime and missed as he fluffed in front of goal and Jeremy Bokila's effort some 15 minutes from time was well stopped by home keeper Felipe Ovono.

The Congolese did try to clinch a result in the 90 minutes by turning up the pressure in the last 10 minutes but could not force the breakthrough.

Just a handful of spectators were on hand to watch the game after the violence that overshadowed Equatorial Guinea's defeat in Thursday's semi-final against Ghana at the same venue. Saturday's crowd was estimated at 4,000.