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CAN 2024: the DRC, its largely renewed workforce and its desire to move forward
With a renewed team, the Leopards face Morocco on Sunday January 21 for their second meeting in the CAN group stage after the draw against Zambia (1-1).
Coach Sébastien Desabre has relied on a refreshed squad to go as far as possible in Ivory Coast.
Congolese Theo Bongonda against Zambia, January 17, 2024. AFP - SIA KAMBOU
By: Farid Achache Follow
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From our special correspondent in San Pedro,
Fifty years after its last coronation, the DRC
is in
Ivory Coast
with a largely rejuvenated team.
Of the twenty-four players, twenty of them are discovering the
CAN,
very few have experience of this big stage,
which makes an entire continent vibrate for a month.
When Sébastien Desabre was named coach of the Congolese team in August 2022, the group was in bad shape.
Finally, with this largely renewed squad, the Congolese finished first in their group at the end of the qualifications.
A waking dream near San Pedro
“
Yes, twenty new players in the group, it’s atypical
,” notes the French technician.
It's like a new beginning.
But that doesn't take anything away from those who wore this jersey and defended it.
Today, there is a new dynamic.
In a while, we will take stock to find out what we are missing, because we will inevitably be missing things
.”
For the Leopards, the Congolese jersey means a lot.
Whether they were born in
the DRC
or in Europe.
This is the case of Samuel Moutoussamy who is living a daydream near San Pedro, on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.
“
It’s a highlight for me, I have always watched the CAN with family and friends.
My family was there at the first game to support us.
I’m happy to experience this
,” says the FC Nantes midfielder.
“
As long as I am called, I will give my best to help this team
,” he continues.
The DRC is a football nation
.
The people are very attached to their national team.
There is a very strong connection.
It's true, they are very demanding, but they love us very much.
We will try to grow together and go as far as possible in the competition.
There is energy and solidarity in this team and that is what it takes to succeed.
It would be nice to get out of the chickens
.”
Read alsoCAN 2024: The complete calendar and all the results
“If the Congolese identify with us, it will be a successful CAN”
If some hesitated to join the national team, others, like Gédéon Kalulu, asked themselves to be part of the “
family
”.
The FC Lorient defender looks totally fulfilled for his first big meeting with the Leopards.
The FC Lorient defender had his first selection in October 2020, in a friendly against… Morocco already at the time.
“
In the evening, we like to play cards, we watch the other matches together,”
explains the man who signed his first professional contract with OL in 2017
.
Sometimes we try to think about something other than football.
It's a good pressure to play for a hundred million people.
We hope to give them a nice gift.
In any case, it helps us move forward and we want to be even better on the pitch.
[...]
If the Congolese identify with us, it will be a successful CAN.
»
For his part, Théo Bongonda, born in Belgium, left winger at Spartak Moscow, does not hide his emotion.
At the first game, he admitted to having tears in his eyes during the national anthem.
The one nicknamed “Théo Messi” by Congolese supporters scored against Sudan (2-0), on September 9, 2023, at the Martyrs stadium in Kinshasa, as part of the final day of the CAN 2024 qualifiers.
A hundred thousand people in the stadium chanted his name, he got goosebumps.
If the Leopard began the national team adventure at the age of 26, he already has magical moments in his memory.
And he intends to enjoy it for as long as possible in Ivory Coast.
“
A successful CAN?
It would be victory in the final!
» he concludes, smiling from ear to ear.
He has the whole of the DRC behind him.
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