Lomana LuaLua guided the DR Congo to a 2-0 win over Togo in Group B of the African Cup of Nations in Cairo on Saturday.
Both sides had several good chances to open the scoring in the first half but the deadlock was eventually broken three minutes before the break.
LuaLua put Tresor Mputu through on goal and he then lifted the ball over diving goalkeeper Kossi Agassa in the Togo goal.
LuaLua got on the score sheet himself in the second half as he turned Eric Akoto on the edge of the Togo area before shooting across goal with Agassa failing to hold on to the ball.
The DR Congo could have scored more in the game and Mbala Mbuta alone could have scored a hat-trick.
One of his efforts hit the bottom of the post in the 25th minute and rolled along the line before being cleared by Togo, and his earlier shot had forced Kossi into making a difficult save at the near post.
Togo created good chances of their own, the best coming early in the first-half as Kader Coubadja somehow failed to score from just two yards out as he put his shot wide.
The Hawks seemed to miss the influence of their key striker Emmanuel 'Sheyi' Adebayor, who did not start the game after complaining of a stomach problem, despite appearing on the original team sheet.
He did make an appearance as a substitute late in the game but was unable to make a difference.
The Simbas and Cameroon, who beat Angola 3-1, both have three points after Saturday's opening encounters in Group B.
The DR Congo next play Angola on Wednesday while Cameroon face Togo on the same day.