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June 17 2023 could be a historic date for the Central African Republic. Facing Angola on Matchday 5 of the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, the country could clinch its ticket for the tournament in Côte d'Ivoire and confirm its first participation in the African Cup of Nations.
The Central African Republic can write the most beautiful page in its history this Saturday
Just one more step. The Central African Republic are one step away from a historic achievement: playing in the African Cup of Nations. The Fauves, second in Group E with 7 points (behind Ghana with 8 pts), will be at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d'Ivoire if they beat Angola (3rd, 5 pts) on Saturday 17 June in the 5th round of qualifiers in Douala, Cameroon. While some of the players on the eve of a new day may be gripped by pressure, the Central Africans are not. At least that's what coach Raoul Savoy tells BBC Sport Africa. "We're not nervous. The team is made up entirely of professionals and we know that this match will be very important," he says.
The Swiss coach continued. "We've had time to talk about it and the coaching staff have tried to keep the nervousness out of the camp. I know that some players will be scared and others will be excited. So I think we have to deal with each player personally, but everyone has prepared for the match in the most responsible way possible.
Raoul Savoy, the architect of the revival
If the Central African Republic can legitimately hope to take part in the 2023 African Cup of Nations, it is largely thanks to Raoul Savoy. The coach is in his third spell at the helm of the Fauves. He first took charge between 2014 and 2015, then between 2017 and 2019. In 2021, the coach returns for a third time. After this latest return, the squad was upgraded and rejuvenated. "It all started two years ago when we started to build a new team with a lot of youngsters and, initially, local players. And we got a fantastic result in Lagos, when we beat Nigeria 1-0," recalls Raoul Savoy, who also convinced Geoffrey Kondogbia to return.
"I think the players felt that maybe something was happening and if we continued to work hard, with the help of the Federation and the Minister of Sport, we could rebuild step by step. With this match against Angola, and a final match against Ghana in September, the Central African Republic has its destiny in its own hands. The country, which gained sovereignty in 1958, wants to be among the elite of African football. "We know exactly what we have to do. And this isn't the last match, because we have another one in Ghana in September. So we have a joker. When it's the end of the qualifiers and you have to win, you get more nervous, but we have a second chance.
