CHERRIES striker Benik Afobe marked his long-awaited international debut by scoring DR Congo's opening goal in a 2-0 friendly win over Botswana in Morocco.

The Congolese are in the Middle East preparing for Thursday's Africa Cup of Nations qualifying meeting with neighbouring Congo and handed Afobe his maiden start, more than one year after he was first called into the Leopards' squad.

Afobe struck three minutes after half-time, with QPR midfielder Yeni N'Gbakoto swooping on a pass from Newcastle defender Chancel Mbemba to double DR Congo's advantage seven minutes later.

Former Arsenal forward Afobe was capped by England at under-21 level and initially resisted Congolese advances for his services.

When the 24-year-old ultimately decided to commit his international future to the country of his parents' birth he was prevented from playing a World Cup qualifier against Guinea last November, because the Football Association erroneously sent the player's application to switch allegiance to Congo, rather than DR Congo.

Afobe then opted not to link up with DR Congo at January's Africa Cup of Nations tournament in order to focus on his club football, a decision that initially cost him dear as he missed two matches while waiting for international clearance to resume his Cherries campaign.

Nevertheless, Afobe made full capital on his chance to start a game at Manchester United on March 4, subsequently retaining his place in Eddie Howe's side for nine successive matches and scoring three goals.

His run in the team was curtailed by a hamstring injury suffered in the 1-0 victory at Sunderland on April 29, but he was fit enough to appear as a second-half substitute against Leicester on the final day of the campaign.

Afobe is now poised for his first competitive DR Congo outing in this week's opening continental qualification match against Congo.

Elsewhere, another Cherries striker, Lys Mousset, had a similarly successful evening in his country's colours.

Mousset scored twice for France under-21s as they breezed to a comfortable 3-0 friendly victory in Albania.

The 21-year-old former Le Havre player netted in the 22nd and 45th minutes, before Stade Reims forward Theoson Siebatcheu added gloss to the scoreline with a second-half strike.

It was Mousset's first appearance for his national under-21 team and came after he received a late call-up to the under-20 World Cup in South Korea, where France were eliminated by Italy at the second-round stage.