Prince Oniangue Eyes Surprise Run with Congo at 2015 AFCON
Midfielder Prince Oniangue is ready to make his Africa Cup of Nations debut with Congo in January 2015 in Equatorial Guinea—and he’s banking on the experience of coach Claude Leroy to guide the Red Devils to an unexpected run.
“Most of the time, he reaches at least the quarter-finals. We have to work with that goal in mind,” Oniangue told BBC.
The Reims midfielder believes that Leroy’s extensive AFCON pedigree—this will be his eighth tournament—is a significant asset to a youthful Congolese side.
“Having a coach like Claude Leroy helps a lot. He will be in his 8th CAN and that brings a lot to the team,” Oniangue added.
Drawn in Group A alongside hosts Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Gabon, Congo is aiming to defy expectations—just as they did in the qualifiers.
“No one will expect us to reach the quarterfinals, so it’s up to us to surprise the observers,” Oniangue noted. “We’re going to play the opening match and do our best. We have to take it match by match.”
Congo’s qualification was already a major shock, as they finished second behind South Africa in their group, knocking out defending champions Nigeria and Sudan in the process.
The Red Devils will open the tournament and hope to continue their underdog story—with Leroy’s experience and Oniangue’s leadership playing key roles.
