AFCON 2023 – Desabre: "We have to pick up points against Mauritania"

You were appointed last August and have only taken charge of DR Congo for two friendlies in Morocco in September, against Sierra Leone (3-0) and Burkina Faso (0-1). Do you feel the serious business only really begins with these two games against Mauritania?

Sébastien Desabre: No, not at all. Since August I've worked a lot with my coaching staff. There were those friendlies in Morocco, but we've also followed Congolese league matches and African cup games. I travelled to Europe to meet internationals and dual-nationals, and we've done our homework on Mauritania, who top our group. But of course there's a degree of impatience ahead of these two matches, because they're official and they count towards the competition.

Above all, they're decisive. DR Congo lost their first two games, against Gabon (0-1) and away to Sudan (1-2), and their chances of qualifying will depend heavily on the March results…

Sébastien Desabre: The situation is difficult, I know that. If DR Congo have no points after two games, there are reasons for it. We're going to play Mauritania twice, and they're a good side. They're top of the group and that's no accident. But if we want to keep believing in a possible qualification, we'll have to take points. Mathematically, we can still qualify, and we'll give it everything.

Read more on the same subject: DR Congo: Marcel Tisserand hits out at the Fecofa and Sébastien Desabre

Are you looking forward to playing in front of your own fans?

Sébastien Desabre: Of course. I really wanted this match to be played in DR Congo. It wasn't possible in Kinshasa, because the Stade des Martyrs isn't approved. But we'll be playing in Lubumbashi, and that's a really great thing. It's been years since the national team came here. You can feel the anticipation and the passion. When you're a competitor, you love that pressure. And that's me.

The backdrop to Congolese football is dreadful: results, whether for the various national teams or the clubs, are poor, the federation is shaken by an institutional crisis, and cases of child sexual abuse have come to light…

Sébastien Desabre: The context is indeed unusual. There's obviously a lot of pressure around these two games. We're professionals and we'll try to win the matches. And also to bring a little comfort to Congolese people, because there are people in some parts of the country who are suffering greatly and have a hard life.

"It wasn't hard to convince the dual-nationals"

Despite this very negative backdrop, you have managed to persuade several dual-nationals (A. Kalulu, W. Balikwisha, Kayembe, Laura) to join the national team. Was that difficult?

Sébastien Desabre: No, not at all. Quite the opposite. They are very attached to their country of origin. They are of course aware of the difficulties, but I think their desire to join the national team while the situation is hard shows their motivation. It's always easier to say yes to a national team when everything is going well.

Cédric Bakambu, who had voiced his frustration at the lack of professionalism, has decided to return to the national team…

Sébastien Desabre: And that's very good news! Cédric is having a very good season in Greece with Olympiakos (14 goals, two assists), he's an important player, committed to the national team. He's also part of a positive drive to make the national team more professional.

You haven't had much time to prepare for Friday's match….

Sébastien Desabre: No, indeed. By the time everyone arrived, we could really only work for two days. But we have to adapt and not look for excuses. What I've seen is reassuring: there's a very good spirit in the group, a lot of desire and motivation, and a lot of energy too. As a coach, I'd obviously like more time, but FIFA international breaks are short…

Alexis BILLEBAULT