DR Congo Secure CAN 2015 Qualification, But Technical Staff Still Without Contracts
The Democratic Republic of Congo has officially booked its place at the 30th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), to be held in Equatorial Guinea from January 17 to February 8, 2015. The Leopards clinched qualification as the best third-placed team, finishing with 9 points following a crucial 3-1 victory over Sierra Leone last Wednesday.
Behind this success is head coach Florent Ibenge and his technical staff—who, remarkably, have led the team without signed contracts. This unusual situation was brought to light by Constant Omari Selemani, president of the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFA), during a press conference in Kinshasa on Thursday.
“We believe it is high time to finalize the contract of the national team’s technical staff to ensure that they are morally and psychologically ready to lead the Leopards to the CAN,” Omari emphasized, speaking to Radio Okapi.
“These coaches qualified the national team for the African Cup of Nations without a salary. They only received bonuses for qualifying matches.”
Omari appealed directly to the Congolese government, urging it to swiftly formalize employment contracts for Ibenge and his staff to provide the necessary stability as the team prepares for the continental showdown.
Interestingly, Omari revealed that qualifying for CAN 2015 was not the original objective for Ibenge. Rather, the coach was tasked with building a competitive and cohesive national squad. The six qualifying matches were seen more as a proving ground than a make-or-break campaign.
“In our conversations, we told him: you’re not working because you have to lead us to the CAN. If we qualify, it will be a bonus. But you, build us a good national team,” Omari explained.
“From match to match, there was progress. A group was born, a project that is taking off… This team has enormous potential.”
Now with qualification secured and optimism surrounding the squad’s development, regularizing the situation of the coaching staff appears not just a moral obligation but a strategic necessity as DR Congo eyes a strong performance at CAN 2015.
