Ghana scored the first goal of the tournament when Emmanuel Agyemang Badu slid home from Kwadwo Asamoah's pass.

Asamoah doubled Ghana's lead when he headed in at the far post but Tresor Mputu replied quickly for DR Congo, poking home from inside the box.

And DR Congo restored parity when Dieumerci Mbokani scored a penalty after being dragged down by his shirt.

It was a deserved point for DR Congo, whose build-up to the match had been marred by rumours that their coach Claude LeRoy had quit over a row about bonus money.

But the Frenchman was in place on the touchline to see his team make a bright start against the fancied Ghanaians.

Lomana Lua Lua came close to opening the scoring when his fierce drive from inside the box was brilliantly tipped against the bar by Fatau Dauda.

It was clear that Ghana, who had come into the tournament off the back off of 3-0 and 4-2 wins over Egypt and Tunisia respectively, were not going to have this all their own way.

Former Newcastle and Portsmouth forward Lua Lua was again in the action when he fired in a shot from the edge of the box, but this time Dauda was able to watch the ball drift harmlessly wide.

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah, hoping to lead his country to their first title since 1982, would not have envisaged the campaign starting this way.

And he had more reason to be displeased when skipper Asamoah Gyan dragged a shot horribly wide having been played clean through by an excellent pass from Derek Boateng.

But at least it was evident that the Black Stars would threaten.

And five minutes before half-time, it was Ghana who broke the deadlock with a goal worthy of being the first of the tournament.