In an interview with RFI, the DR Congo coach, Sébastien Desabre, reads his list of players called up for CAN 2024. The French technician also evokes, without hammering it, his ambitions, with a group that will not limits at the African Cup.
6 mins
Sébastien Desabre, you could have selected up to 27 players, but you ultimately only chose 24. Why?
We are in a player management logic. I didn’t want to take players and not bring them in, while their club continues to need them in January. It could have harmed them. Then we have until January 3 to add players. And we have until January 16 (since our first match is on the 17th against Zambia) to replace a player in the event of injury. I consider that the number of players is sufficient in relation to my tactical plan and also for the management of my group throughout the duration of the competition.
Precisely, it’s a group that you know well, a fairly logical team compared to your last selections. Have you opted for a tight, commando-style group, a formula that often works quite well for the CAN?
There has still been a lot of movement over the last year. I’ve had the team in hand for a year and a half now, we’ve had groupings and we now have certainty. That’s why we didn’t turn everything upside down. You know, in the selection, we don’t often have players with us. So it’s good to have stability to build a coherent sports policy. We know the players and their mentality, which has been great from the start. They also deserve to know the competition for which they qualified. After a chaotic start before my arrival, they have recovered well, and it is a logical reward for them that they are competing in the CAN.
The Congolese selection started from afar, with two defeats in entry qualification. You put the house in order a little, also observing the youth selections and going to CHAN with the local team. This list of 24 is the culmination of your work since your arrival?
When I took over the selection, we were more focused on qualifying for CAN 2025. It happened faster than expected, so much the better. Of course, we are working on this CAN, but also on the sustainability of the selection. We also follow young players, called up for youth selections, and we monitor the local championship, which has finally started again, and has been going well for several months. For the next deadlines, these are good avenues, even if for the moment, we are focusing on this Ivorian CAN. There are four senior players who know the competition well (Chancel Mbemba, Gaël Kakuta, Meschack Elia and Cédric Bakambu). Otherwise the majority will discover it! We will try to give the best possible image of Congolese football.
There is only one local player in your list (Baggio Siadi, the goalkeeper of TP Mazembe). Did the long stoppage in the championship penalize them?
There are many good players in Congo, some of whom would have deserved to play in the CAN, but we have to make choices. If the championship had continued, I think that Fiston Mayele (today at Pyramids FC in Egypt) or Henock Baka (currently at Simba SC in Tanzania) would have stayed in the country to play for the best clubs. Some players have unfortunately had to leave Congo over the last two years because there was no longer a championship. But many players, like Meschack Elia, Chancel Mbemba or Edo Kayembe have played through our local football. It’s important for the balance and diversity of the group, it brings us human value, and it often makes the difference.
You also bring your touch, with a great renewal. Ben Malongo, Jackson Muleka, Neeskens Kebano, Chadrac Akolo or Yannick Bolasie are not there to name a few. Are you opening a new chapter in the Leopards selection?
I said it when I arrived: one of my goals was to rejuvenate the group and bring freshness. While improving the results, because the DRC selection had been in decline for some time. We gained a few places in the FIFA and CAF rankings, which allowed us to be in pot 2 for the draw. In any case, we couldn’t change everything overnight. Football fans in Congo are sometimes impatient, because it is a country of enthusiasts, which is very good. We have to move forward step by step. We have a big one ahead of us that is arriving earlier than expected. We hope to put Congo in its place. We are the 13th African team for the moment. We will try to perform to progress and have a good CAN.
In 2024, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the DRC’s last CAN victory (1974 in Egypt). Is it a birthday that motivates you?
Even if there was a quarter-final, a semi-final or success at CHAN, several generations of supporters were not able to experience success at CAN. The players are aware of this. We will do our best! At each match people must be proud of our riot of energy and the generosity of those who wear the jersey, that’s what’s important.
To go far, we will surely have to beat Zambia on January 17 in San Pedro. Is it already a decisive match, already a round of 16?
Important, but perhaps not decisive. Look at Argentina at the World Cup, who lost to Saudi Arabia at the start before being crowned world champions. There is no truth! We are focused on ourselves, we have to play good matches. Our players have quality and are ultra-motivated.
But you didn’t particularly like this match against Zambia?
As with every CAN, there will be surprises. Our goal is to be ready for all three matches, not just the first. It is certain that entry into the competition is essential. Zambia is a great team, with an exceptional attacking trio. But most of all we care about ourselves. Above all, we will try not to have any regrets in such a competition.