AFCON 2025: DR Congo aim to raise intensity against Senegal – says Desabre

DR Congo head coach Sébastien Desabre believes his side have a psychological edge as they prepare to face Senegal in their second Group game at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Both teams opened their campaigns with victories, setting up what is expected to be one of the most competitive fixtures of the group stage. But Desabre insists his players are not overawed by Senegal, pointing to recent meetings in which DR Congo have consistently pushed Senegal to their limits.

“I don’t think there are many teams that have given Senegal the kind of trouble we’ve done over the last three or four years,” Desabre said ahead of the match. “We’re the team that has managed to put them under the most pressure, especially in the first half of our match.”

The Congolese coach acknowledged, however, that sustaining that level will be crucial if his side are to come away with a positive result. In their last encounter, DR Congo faded after a strong start, allowing Senegal to regain control.

“Now we need to play two halves like we did in the first,” Desabre added, underlining the importance of concentration, discipline and physical intensity across the full 90 minutes.

DR Congo’s opening win has boosted confidence within the camp, with Desabre praising his squad’s balance between experience and youthful energy. Senegal, meanwhile, remain favourites, boasting depth, tournament know-how and a proven winning mentality.

As both sides look to take a decisive step towards the knockout stages, Saturday’s clash promises a tactical battle and a test of whether DR Congo can finally turn sustained pressure into a statement result against one of Africa’s strongest teams.