Congo Target Crucial Victory Over South Africa in AFCON Qualifiers
Brazzaville — Congo coach Claude Le Roy has described his side’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against South Africa as a “Champions League final,” with qualification for Morocco 2015 firmly in sight.
The Republic of Congo currently sit top of their qualifying group after back-to-back victories over Nigeria and Sudan, and Le Roy believes a win over South Africa on home soil would be a decisive step toward booking their ticket to the continental showpiece.
“This match is like a Champions League final for the Republic of Congo, because with nine points we would not be far from qualifying,” the veteran French manager told adiac-congo.com.
Le Roy’s men stunned reigning African champions Nigeria with a 3–2 away win, before following up with a confident 2–0 result against Sudan. That form has positioned them two points clear of South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, who also remain unbeaten but were held to a draw in one of their opening fixtures.
While confident in his team’s ability, Le Roy was quick to temper expectations.
“South Africa have a good team,” he acknowledged. “But since we are playing at home, we must show them that we are stronger than them.”
Known for his pragmatism and motivational leadership, Le Roy also issued a reminder to his players to stay grounded despite their early success.
“It is not because we have won two matches that we become great,” he cautioned. “We have to remain humble.”
The stakes are high for both teams. A win for Congo would move them to a perfect nine points from three games, giving them a firm grip on the group. For South Africa, a positive result in Brazzaville would see them leapfrog their hosts and inject fresh momentum into their campaign.
South Africa have impressed under new coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba, who is overseeing a new generation of talent. But Brazzaville is expected to be a tough test of their progress.
With qualification for the 2015 AFCON tournament edging closer, the upcoming clash in Congo has taken on the feel of a defining moment—not just for group standings, but for national pride and belief.
Le Roy, who has coached more than half a dozen African national teams in his storied career, knows what is at stake. His challenge now is to guide Congo through the pressure and maintain the winning rhythm.
