DR Congo coach Sébastien Desabre wary of Equatorial Guinea threat ahead of AFCON 2027 qualifier opener

DR Congo will begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on Thursday when they welcome Equatorial Guinea to the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa.

The Leopards are aiming to make a strong start to their qualification campaign when they face the Central African side on September 24, with coach Sébastien Desabre expecting a competitive encounter.

Speaking to the media on the eve of the fixture, Desabre acknowledged the quality within the Equatorial Guinea squad and warned his players that they will have to be at their best to secure a positive result.

The French coach pointed to the experience of Equatorial Guinea’s players, particularly those competing for clubs outside the country, as one of the reasons he expects a difficult contest.

“They’re a good side, with players who play abroad for top clubs. It won’t be easy, as they play a Spanish style of football based on possession. It’ll be a closely fought contest, but we’ll try to make the difference, especially as we’re playing at home,” Desabre explained.

Desabre’s assessment suggests that DR Congo will need to be prepared for an opponent that is comfortable keeping possession and building attacks patiently.

Equatorial Guinea’s possession-oriented approach could make the game tactically demanding, with the Leopards expected to remain disciplined while looking for opportunities to impose their own style on the contest.

For DR Congo, playing in front of their home supporters at the Stade des Martyrs provides an important advantage. Desabre is hoping the atmosphere in Kinshasa will inspire his players and help them produce the performance required to secure maximum points.

The opening fixture is particularly important as the Leopards look to establish momentum from the beginning of the qualifying campaign. A positive result would give the team confidence ahead of their next assignment away from home.

After Thursday’s encounter with Equatorial Guinea, DR Congo will travel to Zimbabwe for their second qualifying match, where they will face the Warriors on matchday two.

Desabre will therefore be looking for his players to combine discipline, intensity and efficiency against Equatorial Guinea before turning their attention to the trip to Zimbabwe.

The Leopards know that the road to the 2027 AFCON will require consistency across the qualifying campaign, and their first task is to make home advantage count against an Equatorial Guinea side that Desabre clearly respects.

With the Stade des Martyrs expected to provide strong support, DR Congo will now look to begin their qualification journey with three points in Kinshasa.