The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) faces a decisive match against Mali, with the equation being quite simple: win or be eliminated. With two points and a third-place ranking in Group B, the Leopards of the DRC must secure a victory against the Eagles of Mali to keep their dreams of reaching the quarter-finals alive. Coach Claude Le Roy emphasizes the straightforward nature of the situation, stating, “To realize our dream, to reach the quarter-finals, we need a victory against Mali. At least there will be no calculation.”
After an exciting 2-2 draw against Ghana, the DRC was held to a 0-0 draw against Niger. Now, they are adopting an attacking strategy for the crucial match against Mali. Coach Le Roy states, “We are going to play to attack,” emphasizing the need to be efficient against a strong and physical Mali team. The coach encourages his team to be liberated and mentions, “If we are not liberated against Mali, we will never be because we have everything to gain and nothing to lose.”
On the other hand, Mali, with three points, can settle for a draw to secure qualification for the quarter-finals. While acknowledging the disappointment of losing against Ghana, Malian captain Seydou Kéita recognizes that their destiny is in their hands. Coach Patrice Carteron emphasizes the importance of not getting bogged down in calculations and focuses on raising the team’s level to secure qualification.
This sets the stage for an intense and high-stakes match between the DRC and Mali, where both teams will be vying for a spot in the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations.
