CHAN 2023: DR Congo will have to follow the "old" Issama guide

Issama Mpecko, captain of DR Congo.

© Pierre René-Worms

Text by: Ndiasse Sambe Follow

2 mins

Struggling after two days at CHAN 2023, the DRC will have every interest in taking advantage of the experience of their captain Issama Mpecko to hope to win their third decisive match against Senegal on Sunday 22 January.

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From our special correspondent in Annaba,

Three CHANs and four CANs give you a big CV, an aura, and certainly more attention from your teammates.

Issam Mpecko captain of a DRC team, who has yet to win after two matches at CHAN, will have to play his role as guide and elder to prepare his younger brothers for the decisive match against Senegal on the third day of chicken.

“ 

I will pass the word that nothing is lost yet.

We are still in the race

, says the 34-year-old player.

We are all going to make the effort, train better to win against Senegal.

 You have to be focused, determined, because this

match will be like a final for us, we will only have to aim for victory to hope to pass the group stage

.

»

" 

Playing to make my family happy"

At 34, Issama Mpecko has been pacing the right lane of the Congolese defense for more than 10 years, moving briskly from the African Nations Championship to the African Cup of Nations, not to mention the African Club Cups with TP Mazembe.

Today, he is such a part of the decor and history of the Leopards that the fans, present on Wednesday January 18 in Annaba during RDC-Côte d'Ivoire, allowed themselves to question him about his age, even inviting him to retire.

" 

I can't hear the fans.

Me I'm here.

I play, despite my age.

I do my job on the pitch and that's the most important thing.

 ".

If he did well against the Ivorians, the right-back knows that the time to put away his crampons is approaching.

“ 

Soon, I will decide on the end of my career.

But for now, I continue to play to please my family, and myself

 .

Issama Mpecko wants to prolong the pleasure and intends to drag his team in his wake to cross at least the first round, as during the five participations of the DRC in CHAN.

CHAN 2023 in Algeria: Schedule and results

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