DR Congo coach Sebastien Desabre has sent a bold message ahead of his team’s clash with Algeria in the round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, expressing absolute belief in his players’ ability to knock out the Desert Warriors.
The two sides meet on Tuesday at Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in a high-stakes knockout tie.
In an interview with “Top Congo”, Desabre underlined that any team dreaming of the trophy must be ready to beat the continent’s strongest nations. He declared, “To win the Africa Cup of Nations title, you must overcome all opponents without exception.” Desabre even allowed himself to look slightly beyond Algeria, but with a hint of irony, noting that potential quarter-final opponents Nigeria must first get past Mozambique, saying: “Before we talk about Nigeria, they must first overcome the obstacle of Mozambique.”
Desabre was clear about his side’s approach: “In the match against Algeria, we will strive to score goals and qualify. Our complete focus is on this encounter, and we will dominate it and achieve victory.”
He added that only after beating a “strong and balanced” Algerian team will DR Congo earn the right to discuss the next round, keeping his squad’s mindset locked on this decisive test.
